As long as Apple has been making earbuds, they’ve only been available in white. From the original iPod EarPods to AirPods and AirPods Pro, Apple has distinguished its earbuds with a glossy white plastic design and charging case.
However, a prototype unearthed by Kosutami on X over the holiday break shows how things could have been different. A trio of images shows AirPods cases in yellow and pink, and while it’s unclear where the images are from, he claims they show an “iPhone 5c colored AirPods 1st gen prototype.” AirPods were announced in September 2016, so these images are likely from 2015 or earlier.
The yellow and pink colors do match two of the iPhone 5c options that were available from September 2013 to September 2015. But as AirPods cases, they just look odd. Maybe it’s because we’re so accustomed to seeing AirPods cases in white, or that the AirPods themselves don’t match the case. But whatever the reason, it’s clear why Apple scrapped these prototypes.
Fans have been clamouring for years for Apple to release AirPods in colors other than white, but other than AirPods Max, it’s pretty clear that Apple won’t be straying from its iconic color choice. And based on these images, that’s probably a good thing.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor, Macworld
Michael Simon has been covering Apple for more than 20 years. He started covering rumors with Spymac when the iPod was the iWalk, and has owned nearly every iPhone Apple has ever made. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and far too many gadgets.