The best iPhone colours introduced every year since 2007

The first-ever Apple iPhone, launched back in 2007, has always been pictured in its black and white shades. But over the years, Apple has experimented with multiple other tints and shades. Today, an iPhone is launched in multiple colours – some standard, some standout.

As Apple is set to launch the next iPhone, it’s a great time to take a look back at the best colours launched with every new iPhone since 2007.

Apple iPhone - iPhone 4S

The first iPhone combined “a phone, an iPod and an internet communicator” into a single device, as Steve Jobs had famously put it. The phone had a black front with a white back that could open for repairs. Sticking to classics, the next iterations of the iPhone featured a similar black colour. This included the iPhone 3G, and the iPhone 3GS.

The iPhone 4 and subsequent iPhone 4S (the first iPhone to feature the Siri voice assistant) featured a separate, white variant. This marked the first time Apple had made a second colour variant of its iPhone.

iPhone 5 series: Colours introduced

The colour therapy started in 2012 with the launch of the iPhone 5 series. It came with dual-colour versions. One variant was a combination of black and Space Gray, while the other was a combination of white and silver. A third white and gold variant was also launched.

The iPhone 5C, a more affordable version of the iPhone 5, included a range of vibrant colours, including blue, green, pink, yellow, and white.

iPhone 6 series: Rose Gold

The iPhone 6 was made available in silver, Space Gray, gold. But a unique Rose Gold variant turned out to be the standout colour with the iPhone 6S.

The iPhone SE, which would launch years later and be based on the body of the iPhone 6, also sported similar colours.

iPhone 7: Jet Black

The iPhone 7 was launched in (PRODUCT)RED, Rose Gold, gold, silver, black and Jet Black variants. This new Jet Black colour was the one to watch out for this time around.

ALSO READ: Every Apple smartphone launched since 2007

The high-gloss finish of the Jet Black iPhone 7 was achieved through a precision nine-step anodisation and polishing process, and it made the colour stand out.

iPhone 8: Hue Precision

The iPhone 8 series saw a Rose Gold hue alongside the Space Gray, Silver and (PRODUCT)RED variants. Apple used a seven-layer colour process to achieve the precise hue and opacity for the colours.

iPhone X series: Gorgeous Gold

On its 10-year anniversary, Apple introduced four new phones – iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR. The iPhone X came in basic silver and Space Gray colours.

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max came in Gorgeous Gold, Space Gray and Silver finishes. Since gold is often considered premium, iPhone introduced a darker tone of its previous smartphones and coined it Gorgeous Gold.

A seven-layer colour process gave the glass back beautiful, nuanced hues, and the aluminium band and camera trim were colour matched to give a sophisticated finish. No wonder the colour was well-received.

The iPhone XR, on the other hand, was available in blue, black, coral, white, yellow, and (PRODUCT)RED colours. The new colour, coral, was a mixture of pink and orange, and brought in a certain flair to the new iPhone.

iPhone 11: Midnight Green

The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro came in various colour schemes. The iPhone 11 came in black, green, yellow, purple, white and (PRODUCT)RED. This was the first time Apple experimented with purple.

The more expensive iPhone 11 Pro was available in silver, Space Gray, gold, and a new Midnight Green. The Midnight Green was a completely new shade that provided a retro-military look to the phone.

iPhone 12 Series: All-new Purple

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini were available in black, white, green, blue, and (PRODUCT) RED. But the new purple variant set it apart from the rest.

While on paper it was purple, the colour shade was more vibrant than the iPhone 11 colourway. This colour scheme complemented the sophisticated flat-edge design and precision-milled back glass of the iPhone 12 series.

The iPhone SE (2nd generation) was also launched simultaneously however it didn’t feature a standout colour.

However, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone Pro Max featured a Pacific Blue and Graphite as standout colours along with the now standard silver and gold. Pacific Blue turned out to be standout colour than the blues provided by Apple so far.

iPhone 13: Paint it pink

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini were available in pink, blue, Midnight, Starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED. While Rose Gold added hints of pink to the iPhone, this variant came with a pastel pink that appealed to pink-fans who were desperately waiting for it.

The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max were launched in silver, graphite, gold, and Sierra Blue. The standout colour though was Alpine Green, which was achieved using multiple layers of nanometer-scale metallic ceramics applied across the surface.

iPhone 14: Yellow, Space Black and Deep Purple

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus came in six stunning colours – Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED, blue, purple, and the all-new yellow. The yellow iPhone 14 was launched in March 2023, months after the Apple event.

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max were available in gorgeous new colours like Space Black, silver, gold, and Deep Purple. The Deep Purple was another standout as a glossy but darker hue of lavender.

iPhone 15 Series: Natural Titanium Tints

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus were available in pastel hues of black, blue, green, yellow, and pink.

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max stood out for their titanium finish. This also allowed Apple to add new colourways like Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium.

iPhone 16 Series: Ultramarine and Desert Titanium

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus variants were launched in five vivacious colours namely Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White and Black.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max saw a brand new colour, Desert Titanium, which provides a warmer hue. Both devices are also available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, and Natural Titanium.