- Apple is retiring Cosmic Orange with the iPhone 18 Pro launch on September 9.
- Dark Cherry is expected to replace Cosmic Orange, described as a wine-toned red with purple undertones.
- The expected color lineup for the iPhone 18 Pro includes Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver.
- Sonny Dickson's leak shows Dark Cherry, Sky Blue, and Silver, contradicting claims that Black would replace Silver.
- Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on September 9, along with the foldable iPhone Ultra.
- After September 9, Apple typically stops selling older Pro models, meaning Cosmic Orange will only be available on the used market.
- Cosmic Orange gained popularity, especially in China, where it was nicknamed 'Hermès orange'.
- Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was the first to report that Apple was testing a deep-red finish for the new Pro models.
- Reports suggest that the new color Dark Cherry may include shades of burgundy, deep purple, and brown.
Apple is set to retire its Cosmic Orange color with the iPhone 18 Pro launch on September 9, 2026, as it introduces a new shade called Dark Cherry. This wine-toned red is expected to replace the bright orange, which gained popularity, especially in China, where it was nicknamed “Hermès orange.”239
The iPhone 18 Pro lineup will feature four colors: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver, an increase from last year's three colors. Reports indicate that Cosmic Orange's retirement is part of Apple's tradition of discontinuing older Pro series colors after launching new models.
“If Cosmic Orange is specifically what you want, the window to grab one new is closing fast,” warns analysts, as Apple typically removes outgoing colors from its online store immediately after the announcement.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the final color lineup, with some leaks suggesting a mix of burgundy, deep purple, and brown tones for Dark Cherry. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg was the first to report on the testing of this deep-red finish, while other sources have pointed to a potential return of Black, which contradicts earlier claims.
The influence of Cosmic Orange on the smartphone market is notable, as competitors like Honor and Redmi introduced similar finishes following the iPhone 17 Pro's launch. Dark Cherry is already appearing on phones in China, indicating that Apple may once again set a color trend with its upcoming release.
“Cosmic Orange, nicknamed 'Hermès orange' in China, influenced rivals like Honor and Redmi to adopt orange finishes. The new Dark Cherry shade, described as wine-toned with purple undertones, is already appearing on phones in China, suggesting Apple may set another color trend.”
News18
