Apple Prototyped AirPods in Five Different Color Options to Match iPhone 7

Apple prototyped versions of the AirPods' charging case in five different color options to match the iPhone 7, according to the prototype collector known as "Kosutami."

airpods pink prototype 2The first-generation AirPods in "Pink," intended to match the Rose Gold ‌iPhone‌ 7.

Images shared with MacRumors and posted on Twitter earlier today show a first-generation AirPods casing in a pink colorway. It continues to have a polished, glossy finish like the final release version in white. The inside of the casing, as well as the AirPods earbuds themselves, continue to be white.

The prototypes date back to the period in which Apple was developing the ‌iPhone‌ 7. The company apparently developed AirPods prototypes in Black, Blonde, Pink, and Red to match the ‌iPhone‌ 7's color options, MacRumors was told. The ‌iPhone‌ 7 was available in Jet Black, Black, Gold, Rose Gold, and (PRODUCT)RED. Since the AirPods' casing is made of polycarbonate rather than anodized aluminum like the ‌iPhone‌, Apple seems to have switched to names like "Blonde" and "Pink," instead of "Gold" and "Rose Gold," to denote the different materials and finishes.

Apple also apparently developed a purple AirPods prototype to match an unreleased version of the ‌iPhone‌ 7 in purple. Purple was one of the color options rumored for the ‌iPhone‌ 7 around 2016, with a range of leaked images showing a purple casing for the device first appearing in May of that year.

Apple is said to have only canceled the AirPods color options at the design validation testing (DVT) or production validation testing (PVT) stage, suggesting that the decision was made at a fairly late stage. Kosutami has previously provided insights about Apple prototypes such as the "Magic Charger" in the past.

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 five distinct color options for the device to match the ‌iPhone‌. Today, the AirPods Max are the only AirPods to have been offered in different color options.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

BreakingKayfabe Avatar
26 months ago
I’m sure has Apple has prototyped everything imaginable.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
winxmac Avatar
26 months ago
A Jet Black [shiny as a piano black key] version should have been released by Apple back then...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Deedlez Avatar
26 months ago
"colorway" makes me cringe. It's just a COLOUR (or "color" for left-pondies)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
windywalks Avatar
26 months ago
The one pictured looks like a ? Not a very flattering color option.
I think they didn't make a black version only because a piano black finish on anything else than metal and glass would show scratches more easily than any other color.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
daanodinot Avatar
26 months ago
I get why they don't do it. One look is by far the best for branding. Although, maybe they're so famous now, that they might as well do it.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xpxp2002 Avatar
26 months ago

The one pictured looks like a ? Not a very flattering color option.
I think they didn't make a black version only because a piano black finish on anything else than metal and glass would show scratches more easily than any other color.
Agreed. I couldn’t even tell those weren’t just white in bad lighting until I stared at the picture for a while.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)