In a surprising reveal, images have surfaced showing a vibrant and playful side of Apple's design history that never saw the light of day. Known for its signature white aesthetic, Apple reportedly developed early prototypes of its iconic AirPods in striking shades of bright pink and yellow.
Vibrant Prototypes From Apple's Secret Vault
According to information shared by the reliable leaker Kosutami and reported by 9To5Mac, these colourful prototypes belong to the development phase of the first-generation AirPods. While consumers worldwide only ever saw the classic white version at launch, Apple's internal labs were apparently buzzing with more expressive ideas.
The newly surfaced photos offer a clear look at fully realised designs, not just rough concepts. The bold pink and yellow finishes seem directly inspired by the playful, youthful palette of the iPhone 5c, suggesting Apple once considered using colour to attract a different segment of buyers.
A History of Colour Experiments That Stayed Behind Closed Doors
This is not the first hint of a more colourful AirPods universe. Back in 2023, the same source, Kosutami, indicated that Apple had tested AirPods colours intended to match the iPhone 7 lineup. Those experiments included shades like Pink, Product Red, Purple, Black, and Blonde.
Ultimately, the company decided to play it safe, bringing only the white model to market. Reports suggest the purple variant was cancelled even before launch, highlighting a recurring pattern where Apple tests bold colours internally before settling on more conservative choices for public release.
The Lasting Reign of White and What Could Have Been
Nearly a decade after the first AirPods debuted in 2016, Apple's mainstream wireless earbuds, including the AirPods and AirPods Pro, remain steadfastly white. The sole exception is the premium AirPods Max over-ear headphones, which launched in a range of colours.
These prototype images force us to imagine an alternate reality for one of Apple's most successful products. They join a fascinating collection of unreleased Apple gadgets, like the cancelled AirPower charging mat, that spark public curiosity about the company's secretive design process.
While we will likely never see these pink and yellow AirPods on store shelves, their emergence provides a rare and captivating peek into the creative experiments that happen inside Apple's labs, far from the public eye.
