A series of photos have surfaced online, claimed to be cases of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. The photos show three colors: black, blue, and dark cherry. The images look plausible, but this is still a leak, not an official announcement.

The full iPhone 18 Pro color palette before you. Photo.

The full iPhone 18 Pro color palette before you

iPhone 18 Pro Color Leak: What the Photos Show

The source was a blog from one of the insiders, where another leaker under the nickname Lanzk posted photos of aluminum frames of the upcoming smartphone. The photos show the back panel and side edges of the case, with “2026” markings and blurry Chinese inscriptions visible.

These photos are the highest quality iPhone 18 Pro color leak to date

The iPhone 18 Pro will have a blue color

From the published shots, you can see how the samples are distributed. In the frame, there is one dark cherry frame, two black ones, and three blue ones. When several identical cases are lying side by side, there are no noticeable differences between them — this is indirect evidence that the parts are real and not computer-generated.

It’s worth keeping an important detail in mind: the frames in the photos come without glass, cameras, or final coating. On such blanks, the shade always looks different than on a finished smartphone in hand, so even authentic photos only give an approximate idea of the color.

Black iPhone 18 Pro and Dark Cherry Color: What We Know Now

For many, the main news isn’t the cherry shade but the return of the black option. In the Pro lineup, it was last seen on the iPhone 16 Pro from 2024, and some users have been waiting for the classic dark case. Earlier, new iPhone 18 Pro colors were shown in other shots as well, so the topic has been discussed for more than a month.

Black iPhone 18 Pro and Dark Cherry color: what we know now. Black color is also coming back. Fans can rejoice. Photo.

Black color is also coming back. Fans can rejoice

Dark cherry is a separate story. Dark Cherry is being called a potential hit, similar to how Cosmic Orange was a smash hit for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. But for now, this is an insider assumption, not a confirmed Apple fact, and the actual marketing name could also turn out to be different.

SIM card tray packets are lying next to the frames

SIM card tray packets are lying next to the frames

The logic here is clear. With each Pro generation, the manufacturer tries to offer one bright, recognizable color around which advertising is built and which sells out first in stores. If the cherry shade does make it to shelves, it fits the role of such a “star” option.

iPhone 18 Pro Colors: Three or Four Case Options

The current iPhone 17 Pro is sold in three colors, but earlier rumors promised four options for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. If that’s the case, then a light silver option — absent from the photos — would be added to the three shown shades.

At the same time, sources disagree. Recently, reports mentioned four colors without black, while the fresh leak, on the contrary, shows black. Such discrepancies are normal for early leaks: factory samples reach the internet in batches, and each batch reflects only part of the future lineup.

In other words, even if the photos are authentic, we’re most likely looking at an incomplete color set. Apple will only reveal the final palette at the official presentation, and until then, any counts remain preliminary.

How Reliable Is the iPhone 18 Pro Color Leak

The source of the parts hasn’t been named, but there’s a curious hint. SIM card tray packets are lying nearby, suggesting the samples originated from Chinese factories. The physical SIM tray itself doesn’t reveal much — it remains available in a number of countries where eSIM hasn’t yet replaced the traditional card.

How reliable is the iPhone 18 Pro color leak. All iPhone 18 Pro case colors. Take your pick. Photo.

All iPhone 18 Pro case colors. Take your pick

Upon detailed examination of the photos, no signs of photo manipulation are visible, and the internal protrusions of the case differ from the iPhone 17 Pro — meaning this isn’t just a repainted old model. There is a weak point, however: Lanzk himself hasn’t previously leaked iPhone colors, although he accurately predicted Apple’s plans for other devices, including the MacBook Neo.

If you’re eyeing the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, these shots are a reason to cautiously consider which color appeals to you, but not a basis for decisions. There’s still a lot of time before the announcement, the palette could expand or change, and shades on bare metal frames look nothing like the final smartphone with glass and coating.

Current iPhone 17 Pro owners and those with older models don’t need to change anything because of this leak — this is a signal for those already planning an upgrade in 2026. For those saving up for a new smartphone, it’s wiser to wait for the official presentation rather than relying on the color of a factory blank.