iPhone 15 Pro rumors are already in full swing more than six months ahead of its expected launch – and while it’s a bit early for credible color leaks, a source has apparently revealed that a new “dark red” special edition model is on the way.
New rumors from 9to5Mac (opens in a new tab)which include slightly less certain predictions for the new iPhone 15 color options, suggest Apple’s next premium model will come in a crimson shade, which the site mocked (below) based on the apparent color hex value ‘#410D0D’.
In an attempt to attract buyers to its Pro models, Apple usually releases special edition colors for the range, which in the past has tended to be more subdued hues than standard iPhones.
The iPhone 12 Pro came in a Pacific Blue shade, the iPhone 13 Pro came in Sierra Blue, and the iPhone 14 Pro went a bit further with Deep Purple and Space Black, which is actually more of a darker gray.
This rumored new dark red color for the iPhone 15 Pro would go well with this overall subdued theme of the Pro series, but it’s also far from a dead certification. First, iPhone color leaks are notoriously off the mark – the iPhone 13 Pro, for example, was supposed to come in a bronze-like shade, but that never materialized.
It’s also very early for color rumors to surface, as aspects of the design of the iPhone 15 Pro, including its color and finish, are unlikely to be finalized later than six months from its expected launch. For example, a gold version of the iPhone X was created (according to FCC documents), but never actually launched.
However, that doesn’t mean we’re not intrigued by this potential new special edition color for the iPhone 15 Pro – especially since there’s a chance it could end up in Apple’s Product Red lineup.
Analysis: Pro Product Red version?
These rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro should be treated with a lot of caution, as color speculation traditionally only starts a few months before Apple’s traditional September launch.
But this “dark red” speculation has us wondering how it might fit into Apple’s long-running Red lineup – and whether it could be the first iPhone Pro model to be part of that lineup.
A portion of every Product Red sold by Apple goes to the Global Fund to fight AIDS and Covid-19. The first device in the series was the iPod nano in 2006, and the iPhone jumped on board with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Apple has traditionally reserved red shades for these charity releases. But the iPhone Pro line never had a Product Red version, possibly because its colors don’t match the deep red that is the series’ hallmark.
While most Product Red devices tend to have a similar red hue, there is a preference for a slight change – the Product Red versions of the iPhone 12 and 12 mini had a more orange or coral hue. So it’s not out of the question that the rumored dark red iPhone 15 Pro could become part of Apple’s charity series.
However, this is pure speculation at the moment, and we’re more likely to trust the other iPhone 15 Pro leaks that have surfaced so far – namely the ones that suggest the inclusion of a USB-C port, a new titanium body, and a slightly thinner bezel.