When buying a smartphone, most people focus on specs, performance, and key features. Design choices like colour often take a back seat — noticed, but rarely discussed in detail. However, that might not be the case with iPhones. Apple is expected to unveil its next-generation iPhone lineup in September, and the rumour mill is already in full swing about its possible colour choices. Earlier this year, in February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple was testing a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Now, a fresh leak appears to back that claim.
Tipster Digital Chat Station posted on the popular Chinese social media Weibo that Apple is said to be experimenting with a deep red finish. The reasoning is that it has been found that few of Apple’s Android peers have started to explore this deep red colour for their own phones, presumably in anticipation that the iPhone-maker may end up using it on the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
According to tipster Instant Digital, Apple may skip offering the iPhone 18 Pro models in black this time. If this turns out to be accurate, it would mark the second consecutive year that the Cupertino-based tech giant has moved away from one of its most classic colour options for the Pro lineup.
What to expect from the iPhone 18 Pro models
The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to bring a notable shift in front design, with Apple reportedly working on under-display Face ID technology. This could lead to the removal or reduction of the Dynamic Island, potentially replaced by a small punch-hole camera cutout. Display sizes are likely to remain unchanged at 6.3 inches for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max.
On the camera front, Apple may introduce a mechanical iris. The devices are also tipped to feature a new three-layer stacked image sensor, possibly sourced from Samsung, which could improve low-light performance, dynamic range, and processing speeds. Overall, Apple is expected to focus more on hardware enhancements rather than relying heavily on computational photography.
The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is likely to be powered by Apple’s upcoming A20 Pro chip, built on an advanced 2nm process. Reports suggest that Apple could integrate RAM directly with the processor, leading to improved efficiency and faster performance. Early estimates point to around a 15 percent performance boost and up to 30 percent better efficiency, along with enhanced on-device AI capabilities.
Battery life could see a boost, particularly on the Pro Max model, which is rumoured to pack a battery of around 5,100mAh. This may result in a slightly thicker and heavier device, potentially exceeding 240 grams.
Apple is also expected to introduce its next-generation C2 modem with the iPhone 18 Pro series. This upgrade could bring improved connectivity, including the return of mmWave 5G support in select markets.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026, following Apple’s usual release cycle. The standard iPhone 18 model, however, may arrive later, possibly in 2027, though this remains unconfirmed.
Pricing is expected to stay close to the iPhone 17 series, as Apple may avoid major hikes after recent increases. However, factors such as rising RAM costs and the shift to advanced chip manufacturing could lead to a slight price bump. The company may also tweak storage configurations to balance pricing rather than introducing significant increases.
