Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, slated for release in September 2026, may deviate from tradition with a surprising color palette. According to a leak from Chinese tech insider Digital Chat Station, the next Pro models will come in brown, purple, and burgundy — with black notably absent as an option. This marks the first time in years Apple could release a Pro-tier iPhone without a black variant.
Color Trends and Consumer Demand
The move is curious given the popularity of black titanium finishes in recent iPhone models, including the iPhone 16 Pro Max and current iPhone 17 shoppers. However, Apple’s past releases demonstrate that shifting away from traditional colors doesn’t necessarily impact sales, as evidenced by the iPhone 17 Pro’s success despite lacking a classic black option.
Why does this matter? Apple’s color choices aren’t random. The company carefully considers how colors complement the phone’s design, material properties, and overall brand message.
Historical iPhone Color Evolution
Here’s a look back at iPhone Pro colors since 2019:
- 2019: Midnight Green, Space Gray, Silver, Gold
- 2020: Graphite, Silver, Gold, Pacific Blue
- 2021: Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green (March 2022)
- 2022: Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
- 2023: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
- 2024: Black Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium
- 2025: Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver
This pattern shows Apple frequently experiments while retaining core options (like silver and gold) alongside bolder choices. The shift toward earth tones for the iPhone 18 Pro suggests a possible design direction that prioritizes warmer, more natural aesthetics.
Apple’s Design Philosophy
Apple remains tight-lipped about its color selection process. However, in an interview with tech content creator Jessica Naziri, Apple’s VP of iPhone marketing, Kaiann Han Drance, revealed that the design teams consider factors such as:
- The phone’s overall design
- How materials react to different colors
- The message Apple wants to convey with the lineup
“With the iPhone 17 Pro, for example…we thought that cosmic orange really helps that pop.” — Kaiann Han Drance
Release Timeline and Future Models
The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an expected iPhone Fold are slated for September 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will follow in spring 2027. This staggered release strategy has become typical for Apple, allowing them to maintain market buzz throughout the year.
The absence of black on the iPhone 18 Pro is a notable change, but Apple’s history proves they’re willing to take risks with color to stand out. The brown, purple, and burgundy options suggest a departure from the sleek titanium finishes of recent models, potentially signaling a new design era for the iPhone.
