Apple may be preparing another standout color for its next flagship, as new leaks suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could arrive in a bold deep red finish and history hints that Android brands may follow suit.
According to tipster Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing a darker, more refined red colorway for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. This continues the company’s recent approach of turning eye-catching finishes into headline features rather than optional extras.
The move follows the buzz around the “Starry Orange” finish on the previous Pro series, which quickly inspired similar shades across multiple Android brands.
The trend appears to be repeating. Reports suggest that some Android manufacturers are already experimenting with similar deep red tones ahead of Apple’s official release—highlighting the familiar cycle where standout iPhone designs influence the broader smartphone market.
Beyond color, the iPhone 18 Pro is also rumored to bring subtle design refinements. Apple is reportedly working to reduce the size of the front cutout, shrinking it from 20.76mm to 13.49mm—a reduction of roughly 35%.
This change could result in a higher screen-to-body ratio, offering a slightly more immersive display experience.
On the hardware side, the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to debut the A20 Pro chip, which could be among the first smartphone processors built on TSMC’s 2nm process.
Apple is also rumored to introduce its first foldable device potentially branded as iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 series, signaling a broader expansion of its flagship lineup.
While the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is still months away from an official announcement, more leaks are expected to surface as the launch window approaches.
If the reports hold true, Apple could once again turn a color choice into a defining feature and set off another wave of imitation across the Android space.