As a foldable fan, it's a drag that Google is keeping things monochromatic with this year's Pixel 9 Pro Fold , but it seems that the company is making the safest business decision in doing so. Unlike the base Pixel 9 and the upgraded Pixel 9 Pro , the 9 Pro Fold, starting at $1,799, only has two color options: black and white, or what Google refers to as porcelain and obsidian. While it's unsurprising that Google isn't doing anything too daring with its nearly two-grand foldable, it still begs the question: Why don't manufacturers, generally, bring bold and fun colors to pro devices? "The approach that most manufacturers have taken is to experiment with color at lower price points, but stick with black and white for the premium tier," said Avi Greengart, president and lead analyst at Techsponential.
"This is both an admission that many consumers invest in cases to protect their expensive phones, and an unwillingness to deal with inventory management." The original iPhone from 2007 came in aluminum (silver) and black. Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007 , black and white colorways have been a staple in smartphone color design.
Most, if not all, major smartphone launches have had either black or white as an option for smartphone users. Recent survey data by CNET, conducted through Suzy Insights, of 1,000 US consumers shows where many lie on pro phone color choice. Of those who were already pro phone users, 48% would consider black as their next pro phone, followed by silver .