Topic / Subject
A new leak cycle says Apple is testing a “deep red” finish for iPhone 18 Pro, and it also teases color testing talk around a future foldable iPhone.

TL;DR
Deep red on a Pro iPhone would be a big headline color… if it survives testing. For now, this reads like pipeline chatter: real enough to watch, far from guaranteed to ship.

Key Details

• Per MacRumors, Apple is testing a “deep red” finish for iPhone 18 Pro models, attributed to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
• MacRumors frames it as testing-stage information, not final confirmation.
• AppleInsider summarizes separate iPhone 18 Pro design rumors circulating in the same leak ecosystem.
• Apple’s final color lineup (and foldable timing/colors) remains unconfirmed.

Breakdown
Apple color rumors are fun because they’re believable and low-stakes, and also because “testing” is the easiest true thing to say about a future iPhone. Big companies test a lot of things. The real question is what makes the cut.

A “deep red” Pro finish would stand out because Apple typically keeps Pro colors in the premium lane (muted, metallic, safe). A bold red could signal Apple wants a more distinct visual identity for the Pro line, especially if hardware changes are incremental.

The foldable angle is even squishier. “Color testing” for a foldable can be real without telling you anything about launch timing. It basically means: someone wants to keep the foldable narrative warm while the hardware story stays quiet.

So the right read here: color testing is plausible, “deep red exists in the lab” is plausible, but “deep red ships on iPhone 18 Pro” is still a jump.

Is This Leak Credible?
The credibility hinges on attribution. MacRumors citing Mark Gurman (via Bloomberg) is a stronger lane than random social posts, but it’s still “testing,” not a final bill of materials or a production leak.

The most believable part is the framing: Apple is testing options. The least confirmed part is the outcome: which option wins.

What It Would Mean (real-world impact)

• If “deep red” ships: it becomes a marketing hook and a visible “tell” for the 18 Pro generation.
• It could push more buyers toward Pro models based on aesthetics alone (Apple loves that).
• If the foldable color talk keeps popping up: it suggests Apple wants the foldable story to feel inevitable, even without dates.

Buy Now vs Wait

• If you buy based on color: waiting makes sense, but you’re betting on a rumor surviving the cut.
• If you buy based on function: color leaks shouldn’t move your timeline, they’re the least reliable “feature” to plan around.

What to Watch Next

• Whether multiple credible reporters echo the same “deep red” testing detail
• Any supply-chain chatter about a red-specific finish process (more meaningful than “testing”)
• Whether AppleInsider-style threads converge on a consistent iPhone 18 Pro design direction
• If foldable reports shift from “colors” to “manufacturing readiness” signals

Sources

• MacRumors — Apple is Testing These iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable iPhone Colors
• AppleInsider — iPhone 18 Pro again rumored to feature a smaller redesigned Dynamic Island

Comment
Would a bold “deep red” Pro iPhone actually tempt you to upgrade, or are colors just noise?