BERANDAPOST.COM, BALIKPAPAN – Even though the launch of the iPhone 18 line is still about six months away, rumors are starting to heat up. The latest report says Apple is testing dark red as a flagship option for the iPhone 18 Pro.
Berandapost.com Launching CNET, Wednesday (25/2/2026), Bloomberg journalist, Mark Gurman, revealed that the color red is now the main candidate in the internal testing stage.
“Given the success of orange, I wouldn’t be surprised if the company kept that option and just added red as an additional option. But red and orange are probably a little too close on the color wheel to have both. As of now, red is the new flagship color in testing for the next iPhone Pro,” Gurman wrote.
Apple previously released a cosmic orange color on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. If this rumor is accurate, dark red could replace that role as the iconic color of the next generation.
CNET’s mobile content director, Patrick Holland, welcomed the discourse positively.
“I would be happy with a deep red iPhone 18 Pro. I envision a strong Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin West vibe, which would not only add color to the iPhone but also give it an earthy feel. And that’s the opposite vibe I get from the bold, in-your-face cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro, which looks like the color of soda,” Holland said.
APPLE CONSIDERING PURPLE AND BROWN OPTIONS
Apart from red, Gurman said Apple is also considering purple and brown options. However, he suspects that this color may only be a derivative variant of the red that is being tested.
Apple has not provided an official comment regarding these rumors.
Speculation has also pointed to the possibility of special colors for Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Gurman previously predicted that Apple would choose more utilitarian colors such as dark grey, black, white or light silver for its foldable devices.
The red color itself is nothing new in iPhone history. Apple once released a Product Red variant on the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. However, since 2022, the company has not returned to presenting red as the main color of the Pro line.
Traditionally, Apple introduces its newest iPhone at its September event. (bro2)
