Every year, Apple chooses one “heroic” color for the iPhone Pro lineup — the one around which the entire marketing campaign is built. For the iPhone 17 Pro, that color was Cosmic Orange. For the iPhone 18 Pro, judging by recent leaks, it will be Dark Cherry. On April 22, a Chinese tipster revealed details that make this shade truly intriguing: it is a blend of burgundy, coffee, and deep purple — a color solution that no smartphone has ever had before.
What is known about the Dark Cherry color
The new details came from the Chinese tipster Instant Digital via Weibo — the same person who once accurately predicted the yellow color for the iPhone 14. According to his description, Apple has created a shade that combines three tones at once:
- Burgundy — a deep wine red
- Coffee — a warm brown-earthy undertone
- Deep purple — a cool accent that brings the blend to life
The result is a color that will change its appearance depending on the lighting: in sunlight it will look closer to dark red, while in shadow it will take on purple and brown notes. This is exactly the kind of color behavior Apple has refined for years in its premium materials — titanium and matted glass.
An important caveat: the official name “Dark Cherry” is still unknown. The tipster himself wrote: “I’m really curious what they’ll end up calling it.” Apple traditionally gives poetic names to its colors — Cosmic Orange, Sierra Blue, Deep Blue, Graphite. The current shade deserves something just as expressive.
The full iPhone 18 Pro color lineup: what leaked earlier
Dark Cherry is not the only new shade. A few days earlier, Macworld published exclusive information from a source close to Apple’s supply chain with all four planned colors for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max:
| Color | Description | Analogue from previous iPhones |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Cherry | Burgundy + coffee + dark purple | Hero of 2026 — replacing Cosmic Orange |
| Light Blue | Soft pastel blue | Close to Sierra Blue (iPhone 13 Pro) |
| Dark Gray | Neutral dark gray | Between Space Black and Graphite |
| Silver | Classic silver | No changes, traditional option |
Notably, Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue from the iPhone 17 Pro appear to be going away. And for the first time in two consecutive years — there is no black color in the Pro lineup.
Why there is no black — and whether that is a problem
The absence of black and of a “true” dark-gray black finish is becoming a noticeable Apple trend. Back with the iPhone 17 Pro, the company abandoned black — and triggered a wave of dissatisfaction among fans of the classic look.
Judging by the current leaks, the iPhone 18 Pro will continue this tradition. Dark Gray may be dark enough, but it is unlikely to replace the matte black that was once one of the most popular options. For those who want strict minimalism without excessive color play — this is a disappointment.
How the audience is reacting — and why it matters
Unlike Cosmic Orange, which split the audience into two camps, Dark Cherry seems to have been received with uniformly positive reactions. Reactions on Reddit and social media:
“What a color — absolutely fire” “Dark Cherry is definitely my choice” “This cherry is incredible, I want it now” “If I didn’t hide my phone in a case — this color alone would make me buy it”
That is rare: usually at least some part of the audience is unhappy with a new Pro-line color. A shade that practically everyone likes even before the announcement is a good sign for Apple from a marketing perspective.
Android brands are already copying it — before the announcement
Another interesting nuance: Chinese Android manufacturers are already preparing to borrow the Dark Cherry shade for their own flagships — and this is before the iPhone 18 Pro has even been officially announced.
Exactly the same situation happened with Cosmic Orange: immediately after the release of the iPhone 17 Pro, several Chinese brands introduced their own smartphones in similar palettes. The flagship smartphone market has long learned to react to Apple’s color decisions not only as a trend, but as a marketing opportunity.
This confirms that Dark Cherry is not just a corporate decision, but a potential trend for the entire smartphone industry over the next year.
What else is known about the iPhone 18 Pro
Colors are only part of the picture. Here is what has leaked about the iPhone 18 Pro overall as of April 2026:
Design: minor changes compared with the iPhone 17 Pro. The notable exception is a smaller Dynamic Island, which will free up more screen space for content.
Cameras: production of camera modules with variable aperture has already begun — confirming the related rumors.
Battery: according to the leak, the battery capacity in the iPhone 18 Pro Max is not impressive.
Chip: Apple A20 or A20 Pro on a 2nm process — depending on the version.
Possible announcement: September 2026. There are rumors that the standard iPhone 18 models may launch later — in early 2027 — while September will be reserved only for the Pro models and the new foldable iPhone (possibly called iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold).
In brief: the key things about iPhone 18 Pro colors
- Main color of 2026 (hero color): Dark Cherry — a blend of burgundy, coffee, and dark purple
- Official name: still unknown, “Dark Cherry” is provisional
- Full lineup: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, Silver
- What disappears: Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue (iPhone 17 Pro)
- No black again: second year in a row without a classic black in the Pro lineup
- Audience reaction: unusually unanimous and positive
- Already being copied: Chinese Android brands are preparing to borrow the shade
- Announcement: expected in September 2026
Article prepared by the TechVisor team — practical IT media for people.
