Orange You Glad? New Leak Points to a Zesty iPhone 17 Pro
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This could be a banner year for Apple in a rather unusual way. While rumors of a bronzy-orange iPhone Pro go back to 2021, this might be the year it actually happens.
It isn’t just the four years of rumors that make this somewhat significant. It’s also the fact that it’s been fifteen years since Apple has produced a mobile device in an orange shade — and that wasn’t an iPhone, but rather the 2010 iPod nano and iPod shuffle models.
However, that turned out to be a unique era for Apple. Orange was introduced to the iPod nano lineup in 2008 with the release of the fourth-generation model. It managed to last into the odd little square sixth-generation version, but was nixed by the time Apple unveiled the Lightning-equipped seventh-generation iPod nano in 2012.
That model would turn out to be the swan song for the traditional iPods, but it also holds a unique place in the lineup as the only member of the classic iPod family to ever feature a Lightning port (the iPod touch was always a horse of a different breed that always had much more in common with the iPhone than the iPod legacy from which it drew its name).
Orange was also initially a color option for the second and fourth-generation iPod shuffle models, released in 2008 and 2010. However, when Apple refreshed the fourth-generation colors in 2012, that hue failed to make the cut, clearly signaling that Apple was done with shades of pumpkins.
Subsequent years would see colorful iPhones and iPods touch in bright, vibrant, and muted shades of reds, blues, greens, and even yellows, pinks, and purples. However, it would take nearly a decade before orange made a return to any mainstream Apple products.
For anyone who knows Apple’s history, it’s appropriate that the return of orange came not to a mobile device, but to Apple’s colorful new M1-powered iMacs in 2021. That was the year that signaled the end of boring neutrals for the Mac lineup, but what’s even more whimsical is that it was a throwback to Apple’s most iconic use of a citrus hue: the 1999 “Tangerine” iMac G3. This was the lineup that changed the face of computing forever, and the decision to ditch boring beige in favor of bright, fruit-inspired colors was symbolic in that it also represented the triumphant return of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to the helm — and the beginning of the Mac as a force to be reckoned with.
Once Apple had broken ground with its nod to the iMac’s history, it changed things up by introducing the color into the second-generation AirPods Max. While the only hardware upgrade the new cans got over their 2020 originals was a USB-C port, Apple also took the opportunity to freshen up the color scheme, replacing Space Gray, silver, Sky Blue, green, and pink with the more modern Midnight and Starlight, plus blue, purple, and… orange.
It’s a move that shows Apple’s willingness to re-embrace the long-neglected hue, which is why there’s some extra reason to believe it may finally bring that color to the iPhone 17 Pro — and it may show up with an extra punch.
In July, we saw solid evidence that Apple has not one, but two new colors in mind for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. While there’s some debate on how many neutral shades there will be (some say we might get distinct black and gray models), everyone seems to agree that dark blue and orange are definitely in the cards, in addition to at least one dark neutral joined by the usual white or silver finish.
At that time, Macworld’s Filipe Esposito reported seeing an internal document that listed the actual Pantone colors for the new models: “Mood Indigo” and “Papaya.” However, Esposito’s source said that the orange will have a more “fluorescent” look, suggesting a move away from the more muted shades of previous Pro models.
Now, oft-reliable leaker Sonny Dickson has shared some purported shots of the iPhone 17 camera buttons that include a very vibrant orange in the mix. Since the camera buttons are intended to closely match the shade of the iPhone frames into which they’re inset, this also hints that Apple may plan to apply more saturated colors around the edges, not just on the back glass.
It’s worth mentioning that these Camera Control buttons are likely for the entire iPhone 17 lineup. However, previous photos of dummy renders seem to confirm that no other model will get anything close to an orange shade. The iPhone 17 is expected to lean toward pastels again this year, with pink, green, and sky blue among the colors shown. Meanwhile, the so-called “iPhone 17 Air” is expected to be more subdued, featuring only a beige neutral and a pastel sky blue. Of course, all four models will come in the usual white and black finishes.
Dickson is one of the more reliable sources of leaked photos, although it’s often unclear what his sources are. Many of the models he shares are dummy models built by accessory makers, but these camera controls are much more likely to be the real deal from within Apple’s supply chain.
With Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event only five days away, we won’t have to wait long to find out what the company has in store for this year’s iPhone lineup. An expanded color lineup would be an interesting change for this year’s Pro models. Apple has only done this once before, and that was a mid-cycle update to add Alpine Green to the iPhone 13 Pro. However, this would be the first time Apple has launched an iPhone Pro with two actual colors.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
