Newly shared photos from a well-known prototype collector have revealed that Apple once played around with the AirPods design a lot more than we ever knew. The images, posted by leaker Kosutami, claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes in bright pink and yellow—a massive departure from the strictly all-white look Apple has defended since day one.
Apple’s unused experiment with colorful AirPods
According to Kosutami, these early units featured colored outer shells for the charging case, while the inside of the case and the actual earbuds stayed white. The shades are a dead ringer for the colors used on the iPhone 5c, which came in blue, green, pink, yellow, and white. This suggests that during the early development phase, Apple was seriously considering a much more playful, vibrant aesthetic for its wireless earbuds.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Apple’s secret color lab. Back in 2023, Kosutami shared images of pink prototypes and claimed that Apple had actually developed five different color options meant to pair with the iPhone 7 lineup. Even though they made it all the way to the prototyping stage, Apple ultimately scrapped the plan and went with the iconic white design that has since become a status symbol.
The discovery is a big deal because it proves Apple went a lot further than just sketching ideas
While some people thought Apple might have only tested colored cases as a side accessory, the existence of these physical prototypes shows the company was seriously evaluating a different color strategy before pulling the plug.
For users, this adds a bit of “what if” to the conversation. AirPods have often been criticized for their lack of variety, with many fans wishing they could match their earbuds to their phones or personal style. The fact that Apple looked at this path—and then turned away—highlights just how protective they are of the AirPods’ specific brand identity.
So far, the AirPods Max are the only ones in the family to break the rules, coming in colors like Space Gray, Sky Blue, and Pink. The standard AirPods and the Pros have stayed strictly white across every single generation, which helps with brand recognition but definitely limits personal expression.
Looking ahead, these leaked prototypes don’t mean we are getting “AirPods 5c” anytime soon. However, they do show that Apple has revisited the idea of color more than once behind closed doors. As the market gets more crowded and personalization becomes a bigger selling point for rivals, Apple might eventually change its mind—especially if they need a new way to make future models stand out. For now, these images are just a cool look at a different reality that Apple decided we weren’t ready for.