Crimson emerges as a leading candidate

In February, Bloomberg reported that Apple was considering adding a completely new deep red option for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Described as “crimson,” the shade is seen as a rich, striking tone that could stand out in the premium segment.

Mark Gurman noted at the time that it remained unclear whether the new color would replace the existing Cosmic Orange or simply join it as an additional option. The distinction matters, as Cosmic Orange has proven popular, signaling that Pro users are increasingly open to bolder finishes beyond traditional neutral tones.

Apple could theoretically retain the orange variant while introducing red, expanding its palette. However, the two colors sit relatively close on the spectrum, raising concerns about overlap in visual identity. This leaves open the possibility that Apple may ultimately choose only one.

Gurman also indicated that the red tone is currently a “leading candidate” in internal testing. Earlier rumors of purple or brown variants may, in fact, have been different interpretations of the same crimson concept.

Leaker support raises new questions

More recently, Digital Chat Station - a source often considered relatively reliable - voiced support for the crimson rumor. However, the reasoning behind the claim has drawn scrutiny.

According to the leaker, the likelihood of a red iPhone 18 Pro is high because several upcoming Android flagship devices are also experimenting with similar tones.

The implication is that Android manufacturers may have gained insight into Apple’s plans, anticipating that red could become a defining trend and moving early to align their designs.

Such behavior is not unprecedented. Competitors have frequently mirrored iPhone design cues, including color choices. The rise of Cosmic Orange previously saw similar shades appear across rival devices shortly after.

Some Android brands, known for rapid product cycles, may even attempt to launch ahead of Apple when they sense emerging trends.

However, the key point of contention is that there is no concrete evidence these manufacturers are acting on insider information. It is equally plausible that they are simply responding to earlier reports from Bloomberg, which have circulated widely within the industry.

If so, the argument presented by Digital Chat Station adds little new substance and instead reflects a ripple effect of speculation rather than independent confirmation.

A calculated bet on bold design

Despite lingering doubts, there are valid reasons to believe Apple is seriously exploring a crimson option. The success of Cosmic Orange demonstrated that users are willing to embrace more expressive color choices, even in premium devices.

In an increasingly competitive high-end smartphone market, color may serve as a meaningful point of differentiation, particularly as hardware upgrades become more incremental.

Should Apple ultimately release a crimson variant, it could emerge as a new signature finish - similar to standout colors introduced in previous iPhone generations.

For now, the idea of a deep red iPhone 18 Pro continues to gain traction, though recent “confirmations” remain more speculative than definitive.

Even so, given current design trends and Apple’s evolving approach to aesthetics, experimenting with a bold shade like crimson appears entirely plausible. The remaining question is whether the company will commit to bringing it to market.

Hai Phong