One day after the announcement that the Pro models would come in black and without silver, a well-known leaker contradicted this with a photo. It shows three SIM card trays – and none of them are black. The components are taken from the very models sold in this country.
Sonny Dickson published a picture on Wednesday of three SIM card trays, which he claims are intended for the upcoming Pro models. The trays are shown in silver, the Dark Cherry color that has been rumored for months, and a light blue. This directly contradicts the announcement from the previous day that black would be the third color and silver would be dropped. Two of the three colors are undisputed; the only point of contention is the third – and both sides are among the names that have dominated the rumor mill surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro since spring.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The photo shows SIM card trays in silver, dark cherry and a light blue – a black component is missing.
- The day before, a Chinese leaker had named Dark Cherry, Sky Blue and Black, and ruled out Silver.
- SIM card trays are only included in models for markets with a physical card slot, including Germany and Austria.
- Dickson himself had shown dummy models with a fourth, black variant in May.
- Apple will unveil the new Pro models on September 9th.
What can be seen in the photo
The image shows three individual card trays, not cases or finished devices. Such small parts regularly surface from the supply chain weeks before a product launch because they are manufactured in large quantities and passed through many hands. They serve as color samples because Apple paints the trays to match the case color.
Dickson himself has narrowed the scope: he hasn't encountered any other colors in recent months. A black component, therefore, is not included.
The type of specimen is not new. At the end of June, a single sled in wine-red Dark Cherry, then from a Chinese source, was already circulating. The current find adds two more shades to this line.
Why this particular component is so important in this country
A SIM card tray exists only where Apple still includes a physical card slot. In the US and Canada, the company sells current models exclusively with eSIM, while in Germany and Austria, a nano-SIM slot remains alongside the digital card. The iPhone Air was the only model to be sold everywhere without a tray.
The leak is based on a part that isn't even present in a US device. Anyone in this country who buys the Pro model will end up with the exact version from which the components originate.
This does not apply to the first foldable iPhone: The Ultra models are expected to do without the card slot. Therefore, there will be no color clues of this kind.
The leaker contradicts his own material
Dickson showed dummy models in four colors in May, including a black version. When asked about this, he pointed out that black dummies are produced every year, but Apple no longer favors the color.
Dickson has been working with physical parts and dummies for years and has earned a reputation for accurate accessory and dummy finds; the color information for the foldable model in August also came from him. However, his source is an image without attribution, and dummies and accessories are created before the final color approval. The opposing side presents no visual material at all, but rather an assertion. Moreover, it contradicts what has been circulating from the same circle since spring: as early as April, it was stated that a black color was not planned.
Why the components weigh more than the announcement
Our assessment: The third color will be silver, not black. The established starting point for this is the iPhone 17 Pro, which, with Cosmic Orange, Silver, and Deep Blue, was the first to offer a color without any black or dark gray. A company that discontinues a color after a successful year rarely brings it back twelve months later.
Furthermore, there's a linguistic detail that might make the debate seem smaller than it actually is. Several reports from the spring mentioned a dark gray, but none described it as true black. If the same shade is described once as dark gray and once as black, both sides are talking about the same casing – leaving open the question of whether silver would also fit in.
In practical terms, this means little for the purchase decision: Anyone waiting for a classic black should be prepared for a case. The much-discussed sky-blue shade, according to current descriptions, is so subtle that it appears silver in many lighting conditions anyway.
The color question will be decided on September 9th
The unveiling takes place in a week. At the Apple event on September 9th, the Pro models will be presented alongside the first foldable iPhone, and the full color palette will be confirmed once the product pages appear in the store. Until then, two colors remain as certain as rumors suggest, while a third remains unknown.
Which would you prefer: a rich black back in the Pro range, or the bright silver that hides scratches in the aluminum much better? Let us know in the comments which of the three colors you would order.
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