We're just a day out from the "Awe Dropping" Apple September event, and one of the safest predictions we can usually make at this stage is the upcoming colorways. But a new leak from noted tipster Ice Universe has just made that a little less clear.
According to a post on X, the leaker has got hold of images of "engineering models" showing the "closest photo of the whole internet" of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The images show the back chassis of the phone in two shades: a darkish blue and a bright coppery orange color. However, Ice Universe goes on to state: "This time there is no black version, only this dark blue."
Whether or not that's referring to not having a leaked image of a black engineering model or is literally saying Apple won't produce a black iPhone 17 Pro Max isn't entirely clear. I would find the latter option pretty unlikely.
While Apple's Pro-model iPhones have never lit up the stage with bright hues, the company has always offered some variation on black for its most expensive devices.
This is the closest photo of the whole Internet to the real iPhone 17 Pro Max. They are engineering machine models. This time there is no black version, only this dark blue. pic.twitter.com/OKzHLuItC5September 7, 2025
The last three iterations of the iPhone Pro Max have all launched with a black color, and both the current iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e also come in black. It would be a big departure if Apple decided not to release a black iPhone Pro Max in 2025, even if the company did release a dark shade of gray or blue in its place. And let's not forget last year's eye-popping Satin Black version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
What's more, we've had plenty of prior leaks that seem to suggest the black color is a lock for tomorrow's event.
iPhone 17 Pro colors — what do we know
Unlike the base model of the iPhone 17, which is expected to have a few more colorful shades to choose from (like purple and green), the Pro models will be — as ever — a little more demure.
That is, apart from the new orange shade, which was first shared back in July.
Alongside that, we're expecting to see Gray, Silver, Dark Blue and, yes, Black.
If you're not interested in the Pro models, then the iPhone 17 will reportedly come in black, gray, silver, light blue, light green and light purple. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air could come in black, silver, blue-gray and light gold.
Depending on whether or not you like to use a case with your iPhone, color may not be a very important metric. But even so, the decision not to offer the most powerful iPhone in black would be very strange indeed.
At any rate, we'll have the answer soon enough. Stay locked to our Apple event live blog for the latest build-up and news from Apple Park as it happens.
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