Apple’s latest iPhone Pro models skip the color that defined “Pro” for years.
For years, black has been more than just another color in Apple’s lineup. It has been the shorthand for “Pro.” When you picture a MacBook Pro on a desk, chances are it’s the Space Black model. The iPad Pro? The iMac Pro? Same story. Even Apple’s accessories, from the Magic Keyboard to the Magic Trackpad, are available in a deep black option.
But this fall, something odd happened. The new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max don’t come in black. Not Jet Black, not Midnight, not Space Black. Apple has effectively retired the most “Pro” color from its most important Pro product.A history of black iPhones
Black has a legacy at Apple. There has been a black iPhone since the iPhone 3G. Over the years, the black hue sometimes ended up as a lighter variant like Space Gray, but there was always an option for fans of a darker, more neutral color.
Back in 2016, the iPhone 7 introduced Jet Black, an ultra-glossy finish that instantly became a collector’s item despite its tendency to scratch. In 2017, the iPhone X was released only in black and white, with the iPhone XS adding a sleek gold option a year later.
In 2019, Apple unveiled the iPhone 11 Pro in a dark green color, but still offered a Space Gray option. The iPhone 12 Pro and 13 Pro leaned on Graphite, while the iPhone 14 Pro came in Space Black, a finish that made headlines for being the darkest iPhone Apple had made in years.
