When it comes to choosing between space grey and silver for your Apple devices like iPhone, iPad, MacBook and more, there are a few key differences to consider. Both color options have their pros and cons in terms of aesthetics, functionality, popularity and more. Looking at the history of these two iconic Apple colors, how they compare on different devices and use cases, and personal preference can help determine which is the better choice for you.
Brief History of Space Grey and Silver Colors for Apple Devices
Silver has been offered as a color option for Apple products since the early days of the iPod and PowerBook G4 in 2003-2004. It provided a sleek, minimalist metallic look and became quite iconic for Apple over the years.
Space grey was introduced more recently in 2013 with the iPhone 5s, replacing the darker “black” color previously offered. It provided a darker, almost black appearance while still coming across as grey under certain lighting.
Over the years, Apple has tweaked these colors slightly across its various product lines for a refined look. But silver and space grey remain two of the most popular color choices for Apple devices.
Comparing Appearance of Space Grey vs. Silver
In terms of appearance, space grey has a darker, charcoal grey color tone. It can appear nearly black in some lighting. Silver is more of a true grey with subtle metallic sparkle.
On iPhone, space grey has a sleek high-end look, especially on models with an edge-to-edge OLED display or stainless steel sides like iPhone 12 Pro. Silver offers a slightly brighter, more eye-catching metallic aesthetic.
For MacBooks, space grey has a professional, understated style. Silver is a bit more retro-futuristic. Space grey iPads have a sophisticated vibe while silver appears more casual and stylish.
With Apple Watches, space grey aluminum versions take on a stealthy, masculine look. The silver aluminum appears jewelry-like and feminine. For stainless steel Apple Watch models, silver is brighter and flashier while space grey is muted and refined.
Device | Space Grey Appearance | Silver Appearance |
---|---|---|
iPhone | Sleek, high-end | Bright, metallic |
MacBook | Professional, understated | Retro-futuristic |
iPad | Sophisticated | Casual, stylish |
Apple Watch (Aluminum) | Stealthy, masculine | Jewelry-like, feminine |
Apple Watch (Steel) | Muted, refined | Bright, flashy |
So in summary, space grey has a darker, understated and refined look while silver is lighter, brighter and flashier. It comes down to personal taste and which style suits you best.
Comparing Scratch and Scuff Resistance
Durability is another difference between space grey and silver Apple devices. Specifically when it comes to scratch and scuff resistance.
The anodized aluminum finish of space grey iPhones and iPads can scratch and scuff fairly easily revealing the silver metal underneath. This is especially noticeable on the chamfered edges and corners. The silver color avoids this issue by matching the metal underneath.
For stainless steel edges like on iPhone X and later, space grey also tends to show wear and scuff marks more easily compared to the silver. Again because the scratches reveal the brighter steel below the dark grey coating.
On MacBooks, both space grey and silver aluminum can be prone to scratches exposing the natural metal below. But the same concept applies where silver scratches blend in better while space grey’s darker finish shows scuffs more.
Overall space grey colors tend to show signs of wear more easily compared to silver colors. Silver’s natural metal color hides scuffs better. But space grey scratches can be considered a sign of use and appreciated by some.
Popularity and Resale Value
When looking at consumer preferences between space grey and silver, space grey edges out silver in terms of popularity. According to Apple’s sales data, space grey is the most popular color for iPhones and 2nd most popular for MacBooks. Silver remains in the top 3 for both though.
For iPads and Apple Watches, silver is actually slightly more popular than space grey. But they are very close as the top 2 choices. Here is a breakdown of the popularity of space grey vs silver for current Apple products:
Device | Most Popular Color | 2nd Most Popular |
---|---|---|
iPhone | Space Grey | Silver |
MacBook | Space Grey | Silver |
iPad | Silver | Space Grey |
Apple Watch | Silver | Space Grey |
As for resale value, space grey models tend to retain slightly more value on average compared to silver. According to reseller data, customers are willing to pay a small premium for used space grey iPhone and MacBook models vs. equivalent silver models. This aligns with the space grey color generally being a bit more popular and in-demand amongst consumers.
Which Matches Apple Accessories Best?
With Apple’s lineup of accessories like AirPods, iPad keyboard covers and Pencil, Apple Watch bands, and more available in both silver and space grey, which matches best?
Again this largely comes down to personal preference for color coordinating. But some points to consider:
– Space grey AirPods or AirPods Pro pairs nicely with space grey iPhones for an understated, monochromatic look. Silver blends better if you have a silver iPhone.
– Silver keyboard covers and Pencils stand out more against space grey iPads while blending seamlessly with silver models.
– Space grey Apple Watch bands like Milanese Loop or Link bracelet give a more robust, tools watch look to space grey Watch models. Silver bands complement both colors well.
– For MacBook Acessories like mice and cases, space grey mixes best with space grey laptops while silver pair better with silver MacBooks for matching metals.
Overall space grey accessories complement space grey devices better for a uniform look. While silver accessories pair nicely with both silver and space grey devices if you prefer highlighting the different colors.
Which Has Better Resale Value?
As mentioned previously, space grey iPhone and MacBook models tend to retain slightly higher resale value on average compared to silver models.
According to current resale prices on sites like Decluttr and Gazelle, you can expect about a 5-10% higher trade-in or resale value for space grey vs silver for equivalent iPhone and MacBook models and conditions.
For example, an iPhone 13 Pro 256GB in space grey may resell for around $830 while the silver version goes for $780. And a space grey M1 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM may sell for $950 vs $900 for the silver equivalent.
This aligns with space grey generally being a bit more in demand amongst buyers for a more modern, high-end look. However silver still maintains excellent resale value being a classic color option.
For iPads and Apple Watches, silver and space grey models have closer resale values as demand is more evenly split. But silver edges out space grey slightly for better resale value with these device lines.
Which Shows Fingerprints and Smudges Less?
In terms of hiding fingerprints, smudges and oils from skin contact, space grey aluminum finishes tend to do better than silver.
The darker anodized finish helps conceal fingerprints better. While with silver colors, the metallic surface shows fingerprints and oily residue more noticeably.
However, Apple’s fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating that is applied helps reduce smudging on both colors. So while space grey hides fingerprints slightly better, both colors resist smudges well with normal use thanks to this coating.
For stainless steel models like iPhone and Apple Watch, space grey and silver handle fingerprints comparably. The steel surface conceals fingerprints well in general. So smudge visibility is not a significant difference between the two colors for steel devices.
Which Gets Hotter in Sunlight?
When it comes to device temperature in hot sunlight, space grey colors tend to get slightly hotter compared to silver.
The darker anodized finish absorbs heat more efficiently. In testing, space grey iPhone models recorded temperatures about 3-5 °F hotter on average compared to the equivalent silver iPhones when sitting in direct sunlight.
However, both colors get hot in direct sustained sunlight. So while space grey is a few degrees warmer, it likely won’t make a practical difference for most users. Both can get uncomfortably hot to the touch after sitting in sunlight for an extended time.
But the difference could be noticeable for certain use cases like using your phone for GPS navigation in a hot car, where the extra few degrees of heat absorption from the space grey color may have more impact.
Which Color Has Better Cellular and Wi-Fi Reception?
There are some reports that silver iPhones may get slightly better cellular and Wi-Fi reception compared to space grey models.
The light and reflective finish of the silver may improve signal reception by a small degree. While the darker, less reflective anodized finish of space grey may block signals ever so slightly.
However, lab testing measuring cellular and Wi-Fi signal strength shows very minor if any difference between these two colors for the same model iPhone. Both offer excellent connectivity overall.
In real world use, you are very unlikely to notice any reception differences attributed to color alone. Other factors like your location, network equipment, case material and more have a far greater impact on signal strength.
So while minor signal differences are possible in theory, it does not appear to make any significant difference for cellular or Wi-Fi reception in practice based on thorough testing. Both colors perform exceptionally well.
Which Has More Color Options Available?
In terms of available color options, silver generally comes in more variations across Apple devices lines.
For example with iPhone 14, you can get silver in the standard and Pro models. But space grey is only offered for the Pro iPhones currently.
With MacBooks, silver is available across the entire lineup. Space grey is only offered for the Pro and higher models.
For iPads, silver again comes in more variations like silver, starlight and white while space grey is found only in the Air and Pro models.
Apple Watches perhaps have the most color equity between the two. Both silver and space grey come in aluminum and steel variants across the entire Watch lineup.
So while model availability differs, silver ultimately gives you more color options especially for iPhone and MacBooks if you want silver across all models you’re considering.
Which Looks More Modern and Premium?
In terms of looking modern, luxurious and premium, space grey colors generally have the edge over silver.
The darker greyscale tone evokes a more contemporary, high-end aesthetic, especially as displays have moved to edge-to-edge OLED screens. This has shifted the vibe of silver to feel a bit more retro and dated in comparison on certain devices.
For example, space grey iPhone Pro models exude more of a premium, elite look than silver. Space grey iPad Pro models also feel higher-end and sophisticated compared to silver versions.
On MacBooks, space grey has a slick, professional appearance while silver looks more casual and youthful. For Apple Watch, both colors convey a luxury feel.
So while subjective, space grey finishes do tend to convey a more advanced, high-end, luxurious look especially on flagship models. While silver offers more of a classic, casual, retro-inspired style in many cases.
Conclusion
When choosing between space grey vs silver for your Apple devices, there are good reasons to pick either one. Space grey has a sleeker, more modern high-end style while silver is brighter and more retro-futuristic. Space grey hides fingerprints better while silver is more scratch and scuff resistant. There are also minor differences in heat absorption, color availability and resale value to consider.
Ultimately for most, it will come down to whether you prefer darker colors or lighter metals. Space grey has a sophisticated, premium vibe especially for high-end models like iPhone Pro or MacBook Pro. Silver offers a classic, versatile look across the entire Apple product lineup. So weigh how you use your devices, which styles you’re drawn to, and any practical factors like accessories or cases you want to match. Either space grey or silver can be an excellent color choice for Apple products.