For years, Black has been more than just another color in Apple’s lineup. It’s been concise for “Pro.” When you imagine a MacBook Pro on a desktop, the chances of it is the space, black model. IPad Pro? IMac Pro? Same story. Even Apple’s accessories, from the magic keyboard to the magic trackpad, are available in a deep black option.
But in the fall something weird happened. The new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will not come in black. Not jet black, not midnight, not space black. Apple has effectively drawn the most “pro” color back from its most important pro product.
A story with black iPhones
Black has a legacy at Apple. There has been a black iPhone since iPhone 3G. Over the years, the black tint 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 Jet Black, an ultra-glossy finish, introduced a collector’s item despite its tendency to scratch. In 2017, the iPhone X was only released in black and white, with iPhone XS adding a slim gold setting a year later.
In 2019, the Apple iPhone 11 Pro revealed 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 to be the darkest iPhone Apple had made this year.
When the iPhone 15 Pro arrived, Space Black felt as a standard. Rumors suggested it would also continue the iPhone 17 Pro, but when Apple revealed Lineup this week, the setting was nowhere to be found.
Rumors versus what actually happened
Earlier this year, Macworld gained access to an internal document that revealed the potential colors that Apple had experimented with for the iPhone 17 set -up. We got most of them right, except for a steel gray iPhone 17, which apparently ended up being scrapped.
The same document also suggested that Apple was planning to release the iPhone 17 Pro in the traditional black, white and silver, in addition to the new Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange. While black and white seemed like pretty obvious choices, Apple didn’t go that route.
The iPhone 17 Pro comes in only three color settings this year – but not black.
Apple
It raises a question: Did Apple intentionally go away from the most pro-looking color, or was black just a breakdown of the company’s ever-changing material scientific experiments?
We don’t know exactly why Apple scrapped a black option – it could be somewhat related to the new material as the black aluminum on the iPhone 5 tended to scratch lightly. But it’s not like Apple hasn’t manufactured other black aluminum products since then.
Why black matters to pro -users
Black is not just a safe color. It’s a statement. For professionals, black hardware blends seamlessly in workflows. It doesn’t scream about attention in a meeting room. Many people choose black devices because they are discreet, elegant and sophisticated.
By skipping black on the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple creates a hole in its product family. You can buy a Space Black MacBook Pro, pair it with a Space Black iPad Pro, and then … what? A silver or orange iPhone 17 Pro? The ecosystem suddenly feels inconsistent.
Black has been a staple for Apple’s flagship phones for years.
Apple
Personally, I’m really unsure which iPhone color I should get this year. I currently have a desert iPhone 16 Pro Max, which I think is a very elegant color as it is not too light but still gives it a bit of a unique touch. Now the orange seems too light and flashy. The dark blue did not catch my attention. And the silver looks a little too basic. It looks like a fourth option is missing and this option would be black.
Apple may claim that its new finish is just as premium, but the absence of black feels like a wrongful one. Pro users value texture, and for many, black is the most consistent, professional option. It is the uniform of Apple’s Pro -lineup, and now it is missing from the product that matters most.
Maybe Apple will reintroduce black next year, just as it has cycled through green, purple and gold before. But so far, if you want a Pro iPhone that matches your black MacBook or Apple Watch, you’re out of luck.
Black has always been the most pro color. Without it, the iPhone 17 Pro -lineup just looks a little less … Pro.