The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and iPhone 18 Pro all have one awesome thing in common

With the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the iPhone Duo, and other flagship releases expected this year, 2026 has been a fantastic year for smartphones. We have new form factors, some truly innovative features like privacy display and variable apertures, and something else that’s been really important to me over the last few months. I’d like to discuss something that may not be at the top of most people’s priority list, but it’s something that got me thinking about these phones this year. Something I wouldn’t have even thought about last year or any year before.

Let’s talk about smartphone colors

Last year, and all the years before that, whenever I needed a new phone, I just got it in black. It was the easiest decision I would make when buying a new smartphone.

Black is simple, elegant, elegant and understated. He fits perfectly into my life and doesn’t draw attention to himself or me. And, as a lifelong introvert, that suited me just fine.

That was before smartphone makers suddenly and collectively decided to discover the most beautiful hues known to man.

Lavender Galaxy Z Fold 8

Galaxy Z Fold 8 in lavender. | Image from PhoneArena

I’ve never been a fan of white for smartphones. To me, a white smartphone was as inelegant as a smartphone could be.

When I first saw Lavender on the Fold 8, I thought it was the Cream option. And, seeing the phone in action, I felt very strangely drawn to it.

Lavender Galaxy Z-fold 8 reminds me of the Nintendo DS Lite, a comparison I already made for the blue Galaxy Z Fold 7. And, considering how fun the Fold 8 is as a device, Lavender just works.

I’m most likely going to have a Fold 8 as my daily driver soon and I can’t believe I’m even considering anything other than the Graphite option, but here we are. I am.

Violet Shadow on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in Violet Shadow. | Image from PhoneArena

Another Samsung phone, also from the same range, the The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra features an incredibly beautiful Violet Shadow this year. This shade, in my opinion, is incredibly gorgeous.

In fact, I feel very comfortable saying that Violet Shadow on the Fold 8 Ultra looks prettier than Burgundy on the iPhone 18 Proand I like Burgundy. If I received a Galaxy Z-Fold 8 UltraI would go for the Violet Shadow without hesitation.

And, as someone who has always sworn by black smartphones, it still feels wrong to me to say that.

Burgundy on the iPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro Max in Burgundy. | Image from PhoneArena

This is the color that first opened my eyes to the possibility of choosing a smartphone color other than black. I love the burgundy shade Apple chose, although I still think Violet Shadow on the Galaxy Z-Fold 8 Ultra beats him by a significant margin.

Cosmic Orange didn’t do it for me last year, and neither did Desert Titanium the year before. The ultramarine was beautiful, but not enough to make me reconsider my choice of black. The aforementioned blue Galaxy Z-fold 7 It was also pretty cool, but still not enough to make me change my allegiance.

Lavender on the Galaxy Z-fold 8 East. Purple shadow on the Galaxy Z-Fold 8 Ultra is too. Burgundy on iPhone 18 Pro and the So is the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

All three smartphones simultaneously come with a color option which appealed to me more than black. Either I’m becoming more expressive and less introverted with age, or Samsung and Apple have knocked it out of the park this year.

There may also be a factor in which these colors suit the phones they are designed for. For example, while I think Violet Shadow is the prettiest of the three, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the Fold 8 in that shade if it were available. The Fold 8 isn’t as sleek as the Fold 8 Ultra, it’s a fun device that looks more approachable in lavender.

Does this make sense?