We’ll never see these colorful AirPods prototype cases—and that’s a good thing
For as long as Apple has been making headphones, they have only been available in white. From the original iPod EarPods to AirPods and AirPods Pro, Apple has set its earbuds apart with a glossy white plastic design and charging case.
However, a prototype discovered by Kosutami on X during the holidays shows how things could have been different. A trio of images show AirPods cases in yellow and pink, and while it’s unclear where the images come from, it claims they show a “colorful 1st generation AirPods prototype for iPhone 5c.” The AirPods were announced in September 2016, so these images are likely from 2015 or earlier.
The yellow and pink colors match two of the iPhone 5c options available from September 2013 to September 2015. But as AirPods cases, they just look odd. Maybe it’s because we’re so used to seeing AirPods cases in white, or the AirPods themselves don’t match the case. But whatever the reason, it’s clear why Apple abandoned these prototypes.
Fans have been clamoring for years for Apple to release AirPods in colors other than white, but aside from the AirPods Max, it’s pretty clear that Apple won’t stray from its iconic color choice. And based on these images, that’s probably a good thing.
