Cupertino, California, April 17, 2026, 08:42 PDT
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max may come in a muted “Dark Cherry” finish alongside light blue, dark gray and silver, according to Macworld, with MacRumors highlighting the same supply-chain leak on Friday. The reports also point to a smaller Dynamic Island and few outward changes beyond that. Macworld
The timing matters because Apple’s 2026 iPhone cycle is starting to look like a premium-first release. Reuters reported in January, citing Nikkei Asia, that Apple planned to prioritize the Pro, Pro Max and a first foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026, while 9to5Mac said this week the big open question is whether an updated iPhone Air joins that fall slate or slips to 2027.
That leaves more weight on finish, feel and small visual changes than in a year with a full redesign. Reuters reported in January that CEO Tim Cook called demand for Apple’s latest handsets “staggering,” and a separate Reuters report on Friday said iPhone shipments in China rose 20% in the first quarter even as the broader market shrank. Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam said, “As most rivals raise prices, Apple stands out for value, with Chinese consumers knowing its products last at least three years.”
Macworld said a source familiar with Apple’s supply chain pointed to internal Pantone color references, the designer codes used to match shades, for Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray and Silver. MacRumors said the muted red would be the first red finish ever offered on an iPhone Pro if Apple sticks with the plan, replacing the current Cosmic Orange look with something closer to burgundy than bright red.
The hardware story still looks incremental. 9to5Mac said the overall design should look very close to the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped cutout and software strip at the top of the screen, and a narrower gap between the rear glass and the camera bump; Forbes separately described the leak as pointing to changes on both the front and back of the device.
Macworld also said Apple’s first foldable iPhone, sometimes referred to in rumor reports as the iPhone Ultra, would come in fewer and more subdued colors, including white, silver and indigo, and could measure 4.7 millimeters when unfolded. Bloomberg reported last week that the foldable remained on track for a September unveiling alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, though the timing was not final.
If that holds, Apple would be stepping into a foldable market already led by Samsung Electronics and Huawei. TrendForce said this week Apple could take nearly 20% of the segment in 2026, squeezing Samsung’s and Huawei’s shares to about 30% each.
But the downside case is plain. Macworld said the colors are still in development, mass production has not begun, and one shade could yet be dropped, while Reuters reported last week that Nikkei Asia had flagged engineering snags on the foldable that in a worst case could delay shipments by months.
None of that is official, and Apple’s fall hardware plans rarely lock this early. Still, the latest run of reports points to a 2026 iPhone cycle built less around a wholesale redesign than around a new premium mix: a first red-toned Pro option, a slimmer screen cutout and a foldable expected to draw most of the attention.
