Rose gold was a popular color option for iPhones introduced by Apple starting in 2015. The first iPhone model to offer a rose gold color variant was the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, launched in September 2015. Since then, rose gold has been a staple color choice for new iPhone models.
Quick Answer
The iPhone models that have been available in a rose gold color option include:
- iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (2015)
- iPhone 7 and 7 Plus (2016)
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (2017)
- iPhone XR (2018)
- iPhone 11 (2019)
So in summary, the iPhone 6s and later models have offered a rose gold color up until 2019. However, starting with the iPhone 12 series in 2020, Apple discontinued the rose gold color option.
The Introduction of Rose Gold iPhones
When Apple unveiled the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in September 2015, they introduced a brand new color option called rose gold. It joined the existing gold, silver, and space gray colors. The rose gold was a pale pink shade that gave the iPhone a unique and stylish look.
The rose gold color was well received by iPhone fans and it became an instant hit. At launch, rose gold iPhones were extremely popular and often sold out. The color helped generate excitement and demand for the new iPhone 6s models.
Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, said the rose gold finish was “gorgeous” when unveiling the color. Apple had never offered a pink or rose gold iPhone previously, so this expanded the color options available to buyers.
Rose Gold on 2016-2019 iPhone Models
After its successful debut on the iPhone 6s, Apple continued to offer rose gold as a color choice on new iPhone models from 2016 to 2019.
Here are the iPhone models that came in a rose gold finish after the iPhone 6s:
- iPhone 7 and 7 Plus (2016) – The 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch 7 Plus were both available in rose gold. This was alongside silver, gold, black, and jet black.
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (2017) – The next generation iPhone 8 series could be bought in rose gold, silver, space gray and gold.
- iPhone XR (2018) – The lower cost 6.1-inch LCD iPhone XR model offered rose gold as one of six color options. It was also available in white, black, blue, coral, and yellow.
- iPhone 11 (2019) – The successor to the iPhone XR, the 6.1-inch iPhone 11, also provided rose gold as a color variant.
So across four generations of iPhones from 2016 to 2019, Apple kept rose gold in the color lineup. It proved to be a color that resonated with consumers and gave Apple’s iPhones some stylistic flair.
The Discontinuation of Rose Gold iPhones
However, when Apple introduced the iPhone 12 series in October 2020, there was no rose gold option for any of the models. The available iPhone 12 colors were white, black, blue, green, and (PRODUCT)RED.
Here is a summary of when rose gold iPhones were discontinued:
- iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max (2019) – No rose gold color option.
- iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020) – Only available in white, black and red.
- iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) – Did not offer rose gold.
- iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) – Also lacked a rose gold variant.
So while rose gold had a good run from 2015 to 2019, it seems to have been dropped from the color choices starting in late 2019 and the iPhone 11 series. The rose gold craze appears to have faded, and Apple started focusing on different colors like blue and green.
Why Did Apple Discontinue Rose Gold iPhones?
There are a few possible reasons why Apple stopped offering rose gold iPhones after the iPhone 11 in 2019:
- Declining popularity – Rose gold may not have been selling as well anymore as consumers moved on to different styles.
- Focus on other colors – Apple began introducing new colors like green and blue which became more on-trend.
- New design focus – The squared-off “industrial” design of the iPhone 12 may not have suited the soft rose gold shade.
- Product differentiation – Removing rose gold helped distinguish the new iPhone 12 series from previous generations.
While Apple has not officially commented on why they dropped rose gold, the decreased demand and new design direction likely influenced the decision. The rose gold fad seems to have faded after 4 years at peak popularity.
Could Rose Gold Return in the Future?
While Apple said goodbye to rose gold iPhones for now, there’s a possibility the color could make a comeback in the future. Apple sometimes brings back vintage colors after a few years absence.
For example, the iPhone 11 brought back the green color option that hadn’t been seen since the iPhone 5c in 2013. So there is precedent of Apple giving a color reboot after retiring it for a while.
However, with the rose gold craze cooling down in recent years, the chances of it returning may be lower. Apple seems more interested now in bolder color options like the new Starlight and Midnight colors on iPhone 13 models.
But never say never. If rose gold makes a major resurgence in fashion and design, Apple could decide to start offering rose gold iPhones again down the road. For now, anyone who wants that specific soft pink color will need to find a used or refurbished model from 2015-2019.
Conclusion
In summary, rose gold was offered on iPhone models from 2015’s iPhone 6s up through 2019’s iPhone 11. It provided consumers with a stylish and distinctive color option for four years. However, Apple discontinued rose gold starting with the iPhone 11 Pro in late 2019. The reasons likely have to do with decreasing popularity of the color, new design priorities, and a desire to differentiate the newer iPhones. While rose gold may make a comeback someday based on consumer tastes, for now it remains a color of the past when it comes to iPhones.
| iPhone Model | Year | Was Rose Gold Available? |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 6s/6s Plus | 2015 | Yes |
| iPhone 7/7 Plus | 2016 | Yes |
| iPhone 8/8 Plus | 2017 | Yes |
| iPhone XR | 2018 | Yes |
| iPhone 11 | 2019 | Yes |
| iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max | 2019 | No |
| iPhone 12/Mini/Pro | 2020 | No |
| iPhone 13/Mini/Pro | 2021 | No |
This table summarizes which iPhone models offered rose gold as a color option. As you can see, it was available from 2015 to 2019, before being discontinued in late 2019 and for all newer iPhone models.
In today’s market, the rose gold color remains iconic as a symbol of the iPhone 6s/6s Plus era. For those who still love the look, the now vintage rose gold iPhone models from 2015-2019 can sometimes be found refurbished or used in good condition. However, for latest iPhones in 2022 and beyond, rose gold is firmly in the rear view mirror.
Apple may reintroduce it someday if the demand and nostalgia are there. But the company seems focused now on bolder and more industrial colors that match the new iPhone designs. Rose gold had an impressive 5 year run during the peak of its popularity. But for now, that stylish shade is retired from the current iPhone lineup.
For any consumers still seeking that specific soft pink rose gold color, the secondary market for older iPhones is the best option now. Apple has moved on to new colors, but their past rose gold models remain in circulation for vintage iPhone lovers. It was a popular variant in its day and now takes its place as a nostalgic color of iPhone history.
In conclusion, the iPhone models that offered rose gold are the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 8, 8 Plus, iPhone XR and iPhone 11. This spans from 2015’s 6s to 2019’s iPhone 11. However new iPhones from 2020 forward no longer provide it, including the latest iPhone 13 series. So consumers who want that classic light pink color today will need to look to used or refurbished models from 2015 through 2019. While it may some day make a comeback based on consumer demand, for now rose gold iPhones are history.
