Apple may give new color to AirPods with new update, here’s what you can expect
Leaked images show Apple’s early AirPods prototypes in bright colors. This may soon signal a shift from the classic white design to more expressive earbuds.
For nearly a decade, Apple’s AirPods have stayed true to one defined aesthetic: pristine white. But this may change soon. Freshly leaked images suggest that Apple may finally be ready to inject some much-needed color into its iconic earbuds, and if these prototypes are any indication, the future looks nothing but monochrome. Leaker Kosutami has sparked excitement among Apple fans after sharing photos of early AirPod prototypes in vibrant shades of pink and yellow. The photos, reportedly from the development stage of the first-generation AirPods, hint that Apple once toyed with a far more expressive design direction.
Apple may add color to its next AirPods
According to 9to5Mac, these brightly colored earbuds were part of Apple’s internal testing program when the company was still shaping what would become one of its most successful accessories. Inspired by the sleek aesthetic of the iPhone 5c, the prototype offered a playful twist on Apple’s famous minimalist style.
The leaker claims that the colored AirPods were “fully realized” models rather than a mock-up, which suggests Apple came very close to releasing them. The bold pink and yellow editions, in particular, evoke the fun, youthful energy that once defined the iPhone 5c range, a time when Apple wasn’t afraid to experiment with personality through color.
Although the prototypes never reached consumers, their existence offers an interesting glimpse of what could have been. And now, nearly ten years after the AirPods debuted in 2016, Apple is revisiting that long-abandoned idea.
This isn’t the first time Apple has messed with colored AirPods. Back in 2023, Kosutami revealed that the company had tested AirPods designed to complement the iPhone 7 lineup, which included pink, product red, purple, black, and even a shade called blonde. Yet, once again, the experiments remained behind closed doors, and Apple ultimately stuck to its trademark white color.
However, as user demand grows for more customizable and expressive technology, Apple may finally be ready to break its long-standing design patterns. Industry watchers speculate that the upcoming AirPods refresh could offer subtle pastel options, or even limited-edition colors tied to new iPhone launches, much like the company has expanded the color palette of its MacBooks and iPads in recent years.
The re-emergence of these bright AirPods has sparked quite a buzz online, with fans immediately imagining what their earbuds might look like in darker colors. After all, as Apple products have become increasingly fashion-forward, the color might be the next logical step in refreshing the brand’s wearable lineup.
For now, there’s no official confirmation from Cupertino, but if history is any indication, Apple’s next update could bring a splash of color to the iconic white earbuds. And if that happens, it would be a change that’s happened in almost a decade, which AirPods fans will definitely welcome with open hearts.