I have an iPhone 18 Pro Max. Its color finish is Glacier. And I am of a generation that uses the term “cool” as a way to show approval, even if over the years, “cool” has gone from an enthusiastic expression to a subdued feeling.

When it comes to my reaction to the Glacier iPhone 18 Pro Max, the first word I turn to is “cool.” I want to think it deserves a better word, but I can’t think of one. Glacier is cool because my reaction to it is cool, too. It’s nice, pretty, even. And though calling Glacier “cool” seems a bit on-the-nose, it fits.

But as I said, “cool” is subdued, and that’s how I feel about it. It’s not slap-you-in-the-face, look-at-me-I-said-look-at-me like Cosmic Orange. Cosmic Orange is not cool. Cosmic Orange is hot, in a Paris Hilton way.

Oh, Cosmic Orange. How I adore Cosmic Orange. In a world where black, gray, and white dominate smartphones, Cosmic Orange stands out with pride. A flex, even–when you see it, those who know, know.

There’s another reason why I enjoy Cosmic Orange. It’s a callback to the fun times of the original iMac, the Bondi Blue statement that shook up technology. How dare Apple give a computer some personality! We loved it. Cosmic Orange brought that fun back.

Glacier is cool. But Cosmic Orange is a legend. It’s going to be hard for Apple to come up with another color that has the same impact.