iPhone 18 Pro Reportedly Entering Test Production – 9to5Mac

of iPhone 18 Pro has reached the production testing stage ahead of its September launch, according to a whistleblower with a good track record.

The report is vague enough that it is not clear whether or not it contradicts an earlier one from Bloomberg …

Digital Fixed Focus posted on Weibo:

Series 18 is already in production testing. The iPhone 18 Pro production line has also started. According to current information, the material has not changed much, and the current scheme specifications are still used in full.

Test production is the point at which Apple’s assembly partners ensure there are no nasty surprises waiting for them once the device goes into mass production. It uses the same production lines and procedures as the final product to detect any unexpected problems.

A device usually reaches this stage only after all design decisions have been finalized. However, a Bloomberg The report over the weekend suggested that Apple may still have a decision to make: color choices.

Apple is now considering a deep red color for its next lineup. Given the success of orange, I wouldn’t be surprised if the company keeps that option and just adds red as an additional choice. But red and orange might be a little too close on the color wheel to have both. We’ll see how it works out exactly, but I can at least tell you that, as of now, red is the new primary color in testing for the upcoming iPhone Pro.

If the company was planning to make this color option available at launch, we’d expect the decision to have been made by now. However, there are several possible ways to reconcile the two reports.

First, seeing exactly how the color turns out when it enters the planned production line processes can be part of the evaluation. Second, Apple may plan to add the red color option at a later date. We’ve certainly seen the company add a color further down the line on more than one occasion before – including with Product models (RED).. This may be what is being considered here.

What are your thoughts? Want to see the iPhone 18 Pro offered in red? Please let us know in the comments.

Image: 9to5Mac edit of an Apple photo