UK: Android brands sprint to copy iPhone 18 Pro’s new burgundy colour
Android brands rush to copy Apple’s new burgundy iPhone 18 Pro colour
Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, alongside the company’s first foldable phone. While the world was still digesting the launch, Android manufacturers were already mimicking Apple’s most recognisable design cue – the hero colour.
Earlier this year Samsung got ahead of Apple’s iPhone Ultra by releasing the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a “passport‑style” foldable, back in August. This week Xiaomi followed suit with the Xiaomi 18 Fold, a clear nod to Apple’s Ultra aesthetic.
The colour story is even more striking. Last year Apple offered the iPhone Pro range in Silver, Deep Blue and the eye‑catching Cosmic Orange. That orange sparked a wave of similarly vivid Android phones – the Honor 600, Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Redmi Turbo 5 Max all tried to capture the same buzz.
For 2024 Apple expanded the palette to four shades: Black, Silver, a light‑blue called “Glacier”, and the new hero colour, burgundy. Early rumours suggested a purple‑tinted “Black Cherry”, but the final shade leans more towards a deep wine hue, which feels both premium and office‑friendly.
Already, several Android makers have unveiled devices in comparable burgundy tones. The Poco F9 Ultra, Tecno Camon Slim 5G and Huawei Pura X View all sport variations of the colour, and Xiaomi has even dressed its Pad 9 Pro Max in the same rich shade.
These releases indicate a clear trend: the burgundy colour is being treated as a universal signal of flagship status. While Samsung and Google Pixel have so far avoided an outright copy – perhaps to preserve brand distinction – the rest of the market appears eager to ride the wave.
From a consumer perspective, the shift from the bright, snack‑food orange of last year to a more subdued burgundy may broaden appeal. The deeper hue works well in corporate environments and avoids the risk of looking like a novelty item. It also gives Android rivals a ready‑made visual hook without having to develop a brand‑new colour from scratch.
In summary, Apple’s decision to spotlight burgundy on the iPhone 18 Pro line has set off a cascade of colour‑copycat releases across the Android ecosystem. Whether this strategy boosts sales for the iPhone or simply fuels a colour arms race remains to be seen, but the market is already buzzing with burgundy‑clad devices from Xiaomi, Poco, Tecno, Huawei and beyond.
