Kosutami, one of the most closely followed leakers in the Apple world, has unearthed an exciting detail from the tech giant’s secret archives. The newly shared images show that Apple once considered very vibrant color options for the first generation of AirPods models, but ultimately abandoned the plan.
“iPhone 5c” Inspired AirPods Models
The leaked prototypes feature particularly bright and eye-catching colors, such as pink and yellow. This color palette is reminiscent of the iPhone 5c series, released in 2013, which stood out for its “colorful” identity.
This isn’t Apple’s only experiment with color. Another leak from 2023 showed that the company was also testing colors like purple, “Product RED” (red), and black, compatible with the iPhone 7 series. However, as you know, the purple version of the iPhone 7 never made it to shelves.
Almost 10 years have passed since the initial introduction of AirPods in the fall of 2016. During this time, Apple has not deviated from its “white only” policy in its headphone lineup, with the exception of AirPods Max.
Apple uses white as a brand identity and an iconic signature. However, these leaked prototypes prove how close Apple came to breaking this rule internally. Kosutami, who leaked this, has previously shared many canceled projects that excited Apple fans:
- The AirPower wireless charging mat that never made it to market.
- A black color option considered (and likely canceled) for the Apple Vision headset.
- Prototypes of metal-cased batteries designed for iPhones.
