iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry Color Leak: SIM Tray Confirms Apple's 2026 Hero Finish
A grainy SIM tray image from Chinese leaker Ice Universe on Weibo is the latest evidence that Apple's next Pro iPhone will ship in a stunning deep burgundy finish — and there will be no black option.
Expected reveal: Apple Event, September 2026 — alongside first-ever foldable iPhone.
June 30, 2026 — A small component with an outsized story: a leaked image of an alleged iPhone 18 Pro SIM tray in a deep Dark Cherryfinish, posted by Ice Universe on Weibo, has become the latest confirmation of Apple's boldest color bet for 2026. We've verified every claim against published reports, Pantone data, and dummy model leaks.
Fact-Checked Article
All claims verified against MacRumors, 9to5Mac, Macworld (Pantone report), and AppleInsider.
01. The Ice Universe SIM Tray Leak — What We Actually Know
The latest breadcrumb in the iPhone 18 Pro color story comes from Ice Universe, one of the most-followed hardware leakers in the Chinese tech community, whose disclosures have a strong history of accuracy on Apple color and design details. In a post on Weibo — China's dominant social platform — Ice Universe shared an image of what is claimed to be a SIM card tray from an unreleased iPhone.
The tray's finish is described variously as Dark Cherry, burgundy, brownish-red, or purple — the ambiguity is largely a result of the image quality from the original Weibo post. However, context from prior leaks confirms this is a deliberate colorway, not a manufacturing anomaly.
📋 Fact-Check: SIM tray leak confirmed reported by MacRumors and 9to5Mac. Ice Universe's original post was on Weibo, June 2026. All color descriptions in this article are based on published interpretations by multiple tech journalists.
02.Dark Cherry: Apple's 2026 “Hero” Color Strategy
Apple's Pro iPhone color strategy has evolved dramatically. Since moving to an aluminum unibody frame with the iPhone 17 Pro series (replacing titanium), Apple has been able to produce far more vibrant, deeply-saturated anodized colors than the muted Natural/White/Black palette that defined the titanium era.
The Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro was Apple's first experiment with this bold approach — and it became the defining visual identity of the 2025 Pro lineup, despite some reports of discoloration from cleaning agents. For 2026, Apple appears to be doubling down with Dark Cherry — a deeper, richer tone that trades the warmth of orange for the sophistication of wine.
Color Profile: Dark Cherry
Pantone Code
6076
Description
Deep wine-like red-purple
Also described as
Burgundy / Dark Maroon
Role
2026 hero / signature color
Source
Macworld Pantone report
Precedent
Cosmic Orange (iPhone 17 Pro)
📋 Fact-Check: The Pantone 6076 designation for Dark Cherry was reported by Macworld and independently corroborated by 9to5Mac. Pantone codes should be treated as leaked/rumored until confirmed by Apple.
03. All Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors — Full Breakdown
Based on SIM tray leaks, first-look dummy models, and Macworld's Pantone report, the full iPhone 18 Pro color lineup is expected to be:
Dark Cherry
Pantone 6076The standout "hero" color. Deep burgundy-wine finish. Expected to be Apple's most-marketed shade for 2026. Spotted on SIM trays, dummy models, and in multiple independent leak reports.
Light Blue
Pantone 2121A soft powder-mist blue. Lighter and more understated than the deep blues of previous years. Similar in mood to the Sky Blue seen on iPads, positioned as an approachable premium option.
Dark Gray
Pantone 426CReplacing Black as the dark option. A deep charcoal matte that offers the contrast of black without a gloss finish. Expected to be a top-seller among professionals and minimalists.
Silver
Pantone 427CThe classic, timeless option. A clean polished silver that evokes the original iPhone aesthetic. Consistent with Apple's long history of maintaining a neutral silver as a standard Pro option.
📋 Fact-Check: All four colors were spotted together in the first iPhone 18 Pro dummy model leak reported by MacRumors. Pantone codes sourced from Macworld's exclusive Pantone color report.
04. No Black iPhone 18 Pro — Ice Universe Confirms
In the same Weibo thread where the Dark Cherry SIM tray image was posted, a user asked Ice Universe directly whether the iPhone 18 Pro would be available in black. The answer was swift and unambiguous: “No.”
Ice Universe — Weibo, June 2026
[User asks: “Will iPhone 18 Pro come in black?”]
“No.”
This is not an isolated claim. AppleInsider, MacRumors, and multiple leakershave all pointed to the absence of a black iPhone 18 Pro. The likely explanation is Apple's evolving color strategy — Dark Gray (Pantone 426C) is intended to fulfill the role of a dark option for professional users who prefer subdued aesthetics, while the full black is being retired to make Dark Cherry stand out more dramatically.
For context: the iPhone 16 Pro was available in Black Titanium, and the 17 Pro offered Desert Titanium, Cosmic Orange, Natural Titanium, and White Titanium. See our full iPhone 18 Pro specs and pricing breakdown for the complete picture of expected changes.
05.Foldable iPhone Colors: Silver, White & Indigo
The iPhone 18 Pro isn't the only Apple device expected in September 2026. Apple's first-ever foldable iPhone — rumored to feature a liquid metal hinge and a book-style design — is widely expected to debut at the same event, and its color story is the polar opposite of the Pro lineup.
Silver / White
The primary launch color. Clean, minimalist, and premium — positioning the foldable as a luxury device above the standard Pro.
Indigo
A deep blue-purple finish. More muted and sophisticated than Dark Cherry. Rumored as the second color option for the foldable iPhone.
TBC
Some reports suggest the foldable may launch with as few as two colors total, maintaining exclusivity and simplifying supply chain logistics.
📋 Fact-Check: Foldable iPhone color rumors (silver, white, indigo) reported by MacRumors' foldable iPhone roundup and Macworld. The two-color-only rumor comes from supply chain sources citing production complexity.
TechVantage Verdict
Between the SIM tray leaks, dummy model sightings, and Macworld's Pantone report, the case for Dark Cherry as the iPhone 18 Pro's defining color is stronger than virtually any pre-announcement Apple color leak in recent memory. Multiple independent sources converging on the same Pantone code is unusually solid for this stage.
No black, four colors, a signature deep-red hero finish, and a foldable iPhone launching in muted exclusivity — September 2026 is shaping up to be one of Apple's most visually distinctive product events in years.
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💡Frequently Asked Questions
What color is iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry?
Dark Cherry is a deep, wine-like reddish finish — a rich burgundy-purple hue identified as Pantone 6076 by Macworld. It can appear brownish, dark red, or deep purple depending on lighting conditions. It is expected to be Apple's signature 'hero' color for 2026, similar to how Cosmic Orange was the standout color for the iPhone 17 Pro.
What are all the iPhone 18 Pro colors?
According to multiple leaks and Macworld's Pantone color report, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected in four colors: Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), Light Blue (Pantone 2121), Dark Gray (Pantone 426C), and Silver (Pantone 427C). These have been spotted on SIM trays and dummy models.
Will there be a black iPhone 18 Pro?
No. Prominent leaker Ice Universe explicitly responded 'No' when asked on Weibo whether the iPhone 18 Pro would be available in black. Multiple independent reports have corroborated this — Apple appears to be skipping a standard black option for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
When will the iPhone 18 Pro be announced?
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are widely expected to be unveiled at an Apple event in September 2026, most likely September 8 or 9. They will reportedly be announced alongside Apple's first-ever foldable iPhone.
Who is Ice Universe and are the leaks reliable?
Ice Universe is a well-known Chinese tech leaker active on Weibo and X (formerly Twitter) with a strong track record for Apple hardware color and design details. While the leaks are considered credible by the community and corroborated by outlets like MacRumors and 9to5Mac, all pre-announcement information should be treated as unconfirmed until Apple makes an official announcement.
What colors will the foldable iPhone come in?
Rumors suggest Apple's first foldable iPhone will launch in a much more limited and muted color palette — likely Silver, White, and Indigo. Some reports indicate as few as two color options, positioning it as a more exclusive, premium device compared to the standard Pro lineup.
Will the iPhone 18 Pro also use an aluminum frame like the 17 Pro?
Yes. The iPhone 17 Pro introduced an aluminum frame (replacing titanium), enabling the vibrant anodized color options like Cosmic Orange. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to continue with this material, which is why rich colors like Dark Cherry are possible.