Apple Partnering with Product (RED) to Help Fight AIDS and HIV

Apple will once again partner with Product(RED) on their phones. The latest Apple gadget to get the color treatment? The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Both phones will have the glass enclosures but with the signature cherry red color with matching aluminum band and a black front. 

The company noted that the Product(RED) iPhone will be available for order online in select countries and regions start on April 10 and can be purchased in-stores start on Friday, April 13. This is the second iteration of the RED iPhone to hit shelves. The RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus units sold last year, but were discontinued after the announcement of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. 

Fans of the iPhone X, however, are out of luck. Apple has stated that the iPhone X will not be getting the RED treatment. 

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The Product(RED) line was founded in 2006 by U2 frontman Bono and ONE Campaign activist Bobby Shriver. It shares its name alongside other private companies like Nike, Coca-Cola, and others in order to highlight HIV/AIDs efforts in eight African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Tanzania. Apple has been partnering with Product(RED) since 2006, and since that time, the company has donated more than $160 million to the Global Fund. This makes Apple the charity's largest corporate donor. 

In a statement, Apple's vice president of product marketing Greg Joswiak said, "This special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone features a stunning red and black color combination and also offers customers the opportunity to make an impact in fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus improve on everything we love about iPhone, including Retina HD displays that are more beautiful than ever, the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone with the A11 Bionic and more advanced cameras for unbelievable photos and videos. We are proud to support (RED) with this bold new iPhone and hope customers think it is as special as we do."

Apple wasn't the only one to make a color-changing announcement. Samsung recently launched a burgundy color of its Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus in India's markets. That color of the phone is already available in South Korea, but it has yet to make it elsewhere in the world.