Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

[MacRumors]

Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases.

The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white.

They seem close to some of the color options offered for the iPhone 5c, which came in blue, green, pink, yellow and white. Apple has only ever released AirPods in white.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2003859001721926068

In 2023, Kosutami shared images of AirPods in pink. Apple apparently developed five different color options for AirPods to approximately match the iPhone 7, but decided not to move forward with the idea.

Some users have sought after AirPods in different color options for several years. While Apple was seemingly only ever considering offering the charging case in different color ways, it is interesting to know that the company got as far as prototyping distinct color options for the device to match various iPhone models. Today, the AirPods Max are the only AirPods to have been offered in different color options.

Kosutami previously shared images of various Apple prototypes, including all-black Vision Pro parts, an earlier version of the MagSafe charging puck, FineWoven Apple Watch bands, a functional AirPower charging mat, an unreleased "Magic Charger" accessory, and more.

Article Link: Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

 

[MacUserFella]

Kinda makes the cases look like vapes

 

[Lyrics23]

Apple seem to be allergic to colour

 

[Neeon]

These look so cheap… the only reason the current cases look somewhat premium is because they’re white.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'd love to have them in colors, even if it were just the cases.

I use sharpies to color my cases to tell them apart.

(multiple sets of AP2s for different fitness usages)

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

During the early AirPods years I longed for a black set so they wouldn't look so conspicuous, but these days I think they're so commonplace that it's less of an issue. Plus, the white is kind of iconic. So imo they should continue to only offer them in white.

(And if they did decide to offer colours, they should pick literally any other two colours in the world than the ones in that photo 🥴)

 

[zombierunner]

Airpods Pro Dark Mode.

 

[Digital Dude]

As long as it’s not pink, I’m fine with just about any other color. 🤷‍♂️

 

[xeiteu]

Id have liked some nice pink ones, kinda pastel pink that was really in last summer.

 

[Bfarmer38119]

Very cheap looking.

 

[digimc]

Look like bubblegum containers. I like the idea of custom skins though. Maybe I will do that with my AirPods Pro 3 one day.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Unapologetically plastic.

 

[woolypants]

They look like TicTac/dental floss boxes, even more so than the white originals.

Bright colours are very interesting when it comes to industrial design, because they indicate consumer-grade quality. And Apple's always been above that, aside from the times when it deliberately chooses to go the consumer route with cheaper devices. OK, so the Pro range of phones can be had in certain subtle shades, but they're incredibly carefully-selected darker shades -- more like an up-market paint catalogue than candy store.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Apple offers plenty of colors already. White, white, white, and white. Why do you need more than those four? 🙄

 

[Anonymous123]

I’d love it if a black option was offered. Not only for the case but the AirPods themselves as well. Matte black would be great too.

 

[Kidseeghost]

These look cheap. Anyways I don’t care as long as Apple offers their iconic silver/white color. Its timeless if you don’t upgrade every year and the only color that matches across the line up. That is what I am always buying and its annoying they don’t offer it for the iPad Air and Watch SE.

 

[Kidseeghost]

Apple offers plenty of colors already. White, white, white, and white. Why do you need more than those four? 🙄

Silver/white >>>>>> everything else

 

[klasma]

Correction: “Apple Tested AirPods in Ugly Colors”

 

[Kidseeghost]

Apple seem to be allergic to colour

People don’t buy color. Don’t blame Apple. Look at Orange or the 5c iPhone and how people reacted. It makes sense. Most plan to keep the devices for years and neutral colors are safe, match everything you wear, fits in every home and timeless. The majority will not walk around with bright yellow or pink Airpods.

 

[bayportbob]

These look so cheap… the only reason the current cases look somewhat premium is because they’re white.

like someone bought knockoffs from Temu.....

 

[klasma]

Apple offers plenty of colors already. White, white, white, and white. Why do you need more than those four? 🙄

And they used three of those on the iPhone Air.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

These look so cheap… the only reason the current cases look somewhat premium is because they’re white.

They look somewhat premium for about 15 minutes, then the case starts scuffing up.

As for these, I personally like bright colors. I am sooo bored with various shades of grayscale. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[theadz01]

The Pepto Bismol collab we always wanted

 

[Kidseeghost]

These look so cheap… the only reason the current cases look somewhat premium is because they’re white.

White is good at hiding the plastic. Everything else make it look cheap and I don’t want Airpods out of aluminum.

 

[t0rqx]

Apple seem to be allergic to colour

The cost for coloured items adds manufacturing cost of at least $0.01. A margin loss too magnificent for Apple to apply.

For example the Macbook Pro's only got Space Black after they resized the heatsink to less than half (50%) the original to use those savings for introducing Space Black.

The iPhone 17 Pro models have one of the most expensive colours (orange) which is 0.02 ct. They only could use that colour by removing or cheap out on proper electro shielding and speaker quality. Hence all iPhone 17 Pro models make an electrical static hissing noise when charging and distortion when speakers are set on max loudness.

The same goes for Airpods Pro 3, a small redesign that requires new molds. So even with this product they cheapen out in proper shielding (hence the static noise during ANC and the same H2 chip).

Same for HomePod, they only re-introduced it after downgrading and removing the Wifi chip and microphones in that product.

The Apple Watch 11 is exactly the same as Series 10. The reason is because the profit on this product category is declining rapidly. Each product needs to meet certain revenue/profit to get assigned a budget for new features. If it does not meet the financial requirements, it will stall.

Thats's why all regular iPhones will not be upgraded each year.

The only exception (although within borders) is iPhone Pro line-up.

This is also the exact same reason why, after news came out that iPhone 17 Pro are one of the best sold iPhones, got news published they will add small design upgrades, because it already met its yearly quota.

Nothing comes for free.