The Cosmic Orange color of the iPhone 17 Pro has turned out to be much more than just a simple color option. According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the orange tone has been a strong sales driver in the important Chinese market, where some consumers compare it to the iconic orange of Hermès. Although the two shades are quite different, Apple should take the comparison as a compliment.
The success of this color has led the company to carefully consider its options for the next generation. Apple is currently testing a “deep red” (meaning an intense red) as the flagship color for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which are expected to launch in September this year. The big question is whether Apple will keep the orange and simply add red as another option, or replace one with the other.
Red and Orange: Too Close on the Color Wheel?
Apple faces a real decision here. Red and orange are relatively close on the color spectrum, and offering both could confuse customers or reduce the impact of each color. Given the strong sales of Cosmic Orange, it would not be surprising if Apple keeps it and adds red as an alternative. However, the company may also choose to rotate colors, refreshing its lineup with a new tone each year.
There have also been rumors about purple and brown options for the Pro models. According to Gurman, these are likely just variations of the same red idea, since the tones are quite similar. The final decision on the color palette will probably not be made until closer to the September launch.
In contrast to the bold colors of the Pro models, the expected foldable iPhone will follow a very different direction. Apple plans to move away from fun tones and offer more practical colors, similar to the early days of the original iPhone. This means shades like dark gray or black, along with variations of white or light silver.
This design choice shows that Apple wants its first foldable iPhone to feel premium and professional, avoiding the brighter colors seen in some recent products. A more classic look could also help the new design feel polished rather than experimental.
In other news, Apple is aiming to keep the launch price of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max the same as the current generation, despite rising costs, while both models are also expected to launch without a physical SIM card slot and rely entirely on eSIM.
