Silver, space gray, gold, or the all new rose gold — here's how to pick the perfect iPhone color for you!
Color is one of the most visually distinctive and personal things about a new iPhone, which makes it one of the most important choices you'll have to make. The original iPhone only came in aluminum and black, but now Apple offers the iPhone SE and iPhones 6s in space gray, silver, gold, and the brand new rose gold, and the previous generation iPhones 6 in space gray and silver.
If you're on the fence about which finish to get, here's what you need to consider!
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Distraction dangers
The space gray iPhone has a black faceplate. That means when the display is off, dark, or filled with full-screen content like videos or games, the faceplate fades away and you can immerse yourself in what you're doing. TV sets almost always have black bezels for a reason. It makes the frame easy to ignore.
The silver, gold, and rose gold iPhones have white faceplates. That means when the display is lit up, especially for the standard iOS interfaces and for reading on the web, in ebooks, or in messaging apps, there's no dark border framing everything you do. It's why books are almost always uniformly light or white.
I've had iPhones of every color, used each for at least a year, and never found any of the faceplates to be distracting or distasteful. Everyone is different, though.
If you watch a lot of videos or play a lot of games, the space gray iPhone might make things more immersive for you.
If you read a lot of text or use a lot of standard apps, the silver, gold, or rose gold iPhone may make the pages feel broader and more expansive.
Discoloration doubts
One thing that shouldn't worry anyone any more is the idea that the white faceplate on the silver, gold, or rose gold iPhone could get stained or otherwise discolored.
We've all learned to be deeply anxious when we wear white clothes or have white furniture or carpets for that very reason. Apple, though, took an extra six months to ship the white iPhone 4 and in that time the company nailed it.
My iPhone 4 still looks as clean and crips as they day I bought it in 2011, and all the subsequent iPhones I've bought with white faceplates have stayed every bit as bright.
Likewise the backs. All the space grays, silvers, golds, and the most recent rose gold have all kept their colors exactly.
If you're worried about an iPhone with a white faceplate staining or discoloring, or the metallic finishes fading, don't.
Withstanding wear
iPhones have anodized aluminum bodies. They're tougher than standard anodization but aren't gloppy looking like some of the ultra-tough treatments. They are metal, though, and so can b scratched.
On the silver iPhones, small scratches have less contrast, which makes them harder to see, depending on the lighting. Gold and rose gold iPhones are somewhere in the middle. On space gray iPhones there's higher contrast, so scratches are a bit more noticeable.
Some people don't care. To them, aging is part of what makes great objects great, like an old leather bag, favorite t-shirt, or the Millennium Falcon. Others don't ever want to see any wear.
If you hate the look of scratches, silver iPhones are your best bet.
If you like one of the other colors more, you can look into getting a protective case.
Cases closed
If you're the type of person who immediately locks your new iPhone up in a heavy-duty case or wallet, you might think the color doesn't matter so much. Fair enough.
Most cases will still show some of the color, Apple logo, ports, or the faceplate. In other words, just because you'll be wearing a jacket doesn't mean you the clothes beneath won't matter.
Cases can absolutely be used to change up a look, but you should still be happy with the basic look. Choose a color you love, then add a case you love to complete it.
If you want your case to "pop", a space gray or silver iPhone will let the accessory be the star.
If you want your case to complement or fade away, a gold or rose gold iPhone will share the stage.
Coolness concerns
Black is almost always the most popular color for electronics and electronics accessories. That's why it's so common. It's literally the hot little black number. Since true black is incredibly hard to anodize without it being brittle or gloppy, space gray fills that position in the iPhone lineup.
That said, silver has a classic elegance about it, and gold gets attention. (Its more champagne than chintz, though, so it doesn't come off as overly tacky.)
This year, though, rose gold is the new hotness. It's the one that says at a glance you have the latest, greatest iPhone on the market.
If you want a classic, stick with space gray or silver.
If you want some extra flair, go with gold.
If you want to make a statement, consider rose gold.
Who should get the space gray iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus?
If you want a color that won't distract you when you game or watch video, that absolutely won't discolor, even if it does show wear and tear a little more visibly, that's closer to timeless even if it's also more reserved, then get the space gray and black iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus.
It's the classic for a reason.
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Who should get the silver iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus?
If you want a color that draws more attention in its own right and stands out better from the crowd (without being overly fussy about it), that may be more of a distraction but that doesn't show damage as much, then get the silver and white iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus.
How to sell your old iPhone
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Who should get the gold iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus?
If you like the luxury look, aren't distracted by white borders, don't mind the middle ground when it comes to how wear and tear shows, and basically know bling is your thing, get the gold iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus.
How to sell your old iPhone
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Who should get the rose gold iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus?
If you've always wanted an iPhone with a hint of pink, like luxury with a twist, or simply want the latest and for everyone to know you have the greatest, then get the rose gold iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus.
How to sell your old iPhone
See iPhone at Apple
Still undecided?
If you're still not sure about which color you should get, jump into our iPhone forums and the best community on the web will happily help you out.
At the end of the day, the only real answer is this — get the color you like best. Nothing else matters. Just close your eyes, picture your iPhone in your hand, and pay attention to what color you're picturing. Then buy that. And if you change your mind later, you can get a case.
Which color iPhone did you end up buying — space black, silver, gold, or rose gold? Let me know, and tell me why!
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