Odd Lots · Thursday, July 23, 2026
Apple's strategy for its high-end iPhone Pro models involves using bold colors to signify new generations, particularly to appeal to the Chinese market. Mark Gurman explains that the move from titanium back to aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro allowed for better color adhesion, leading to colors like 'Cosmic Orange' and the upcoming red, which has cultural significance in China.
“But orange to the hot color. To an all their marketing material, everyone wants to show, hey, I have the new one. The easiest way to know you have the new one is to get this bold orange phone. They call it cosmic orange. And then in China, the orange in particular has been a hot cellar. The word on the street is that's because the orange is kind of like Ermez orange.”
“And then in China, the orange in particular has been a hot cellar. The word on the street is that's because the orange is kind of like Ermez orange. To my eyes, I'm a little colorblind. I don't think this orange looks anything like Ermez orange, but it's close enough and close enough, close enough. And then this year they're moving to a red from orange to red or like a dark wine color. And why is red important in China? The dragon right obviously very popular there. So in other words, I think they know what they're doing when it comes to color.”