[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee] Leakers are offering conflicting claims over the third colour option for Apple's next iPhone 18 Pro. NineToFiveMac reported on Sept. 2 (local time) that dark cherry or burgundy and sky blue are likely, but opinion is split on whether the final colour is silver or black.

The colours commonly mentioned in the market are dark cherry or burgundy, and sky blue. Some uncertainty remains over the exact tone of the purple-tinged shade.

The dispute centres on the third colour. IT tipster Fixed Focus Digital claimed the day before that the third colour will be black. With many consumers having expressed disappointment that black or space grey was missing from the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, the possibility of black returning is drawing attention.

Another IT tipster, Sonny Dickson (소니 딕슨), has pointed to a different signal. He posted a photo that appears to show SIM tray covers in three colours, and he says the third colour is silver. Dickson said he had shared an image that included a black version, but has not been able to confirm that colour in recent months.

That has left market expectations split in two. Dark cherry and sky blue are solidifying as leading candidates, while black and silver are competing for the last slot. Some have suggested sky blue could be a subtle colour like the one used on the iPhone Air and MacBook Air. In that case, it could look silver depending on the lighting, the market has also speculated.

The colour confusion is also tied to lineup strategy. That is because Pro model colours are one of the key elements that boost replacement demand and early interest each year. When leakers' claims conflict as they do now, a mix of component-level information and prototype images can make it hard to confirm the final combination until just before the launch.

With Apple's official announcement scheduled for next week, the final colour lineup is expected to be confirmed soon. Dark cherry and sky blue are seen as likely, while whether the third colour is black or silver remains the final point to watch.