Apple once explored a more playful look for AirPods. New prototype images show first-generation AirPods charging cases in bright pink and yellow. You never saw these colors on store shelves, but the photos reveal how close Apple came to releasing them.
The designs stand out right away. The charging cases use bold colors, while the earbuds and the inside of the case stay white. The contrast feels intentional. It looks familiar, too. Leak describes the look as “iPhone 5c colored,” and that comparison fits.
Kosutami shared the images earlier this week. According to the leaker, these were real first-generation AirPods prototypes that Apple tested internally but never released.
A pattern of canceled color ideas
Apple has tested colorful AirPods before. In 2023, similar prototype images surfaced, showing AirPods in pink. At the time, Apple was reportedly working on multiple colors designed to match iPhone finishes. Those plans never moved forward. One canceled option even included purple, which Apple later dropped from the phone lineup as well.
This makes the decision clearer. Apple appeared willing to experiment, at least with the charging case. Still, the company stuck with a single choice. White became the AirPods identity, and it has stayed that way for almost a decade.
That timeline matters. The first AirPods launched in fall 2016. Nearly ten years later, Apple still sells standard AirPods only in white. AirPods Max remains the exception, with multiple color options from day one.
Kosutami has a track record of sharing rare Apple hardware. Past posts included a working AirPower charging mat, unreleased Vision headset parts in black, and other internal accessories that never shipped. These AirPods prototypes fit that same pattern. They show how much Apple tests, and how much it ultimately leaves behind.
For fans who want more choice, these images offer a clear answer. Apple thought about colorful AirPods. It just chose not to release them.
