AirPods experiment: Apple tested two colours and then dropped them; here’s why
New leaks reveal Apple experimented with bright pink and yellow AirPods charging cases in 2016, abandoning them for the iconic white design. This follows previous reports of other color explorations. The recently launched AirPods Pro 3, however, introduce significant upgrades including a heart rate sensor and improved noise cancellation.
Image courtesy: Koustami
Almost after nine years of launch of first Apple AirPods, a new leak has surfaced online showing that Apple experimented with Bright Pink and Yellow charging cases before settling on the all-while look which became synonymous with the product.
According to popular leaker Koustami, the bright colour prototypes of AirPods were part of Apple’s internal design validation testing in 2016, but the colours were abandoned at the last moment. This is not the first time that Apple’s experiment with colour has come into light. Back in 2023, Koustami revealed that Apple has thought of AirPods in Pink, PRODUCT(RED), Purple, Black, and Blonde finishes to match the then-new iPhone 7 lineup.
While some images showed pale pink or skin-tone prototypes, the newly revealed bright yellow case is a fresh addition to the list of scrapped designs.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Smarter, Fitter & Louder
Why Apple rejected the two colours for AirPods
It is said that Apple wanted the AirPods to complement the colour palette of iPhone 7 which included silver, gold, rose gold, and black. The company also planned a new purple iPhone 7 which was cancelled before the official launch. Ultimately, Apple decided against releasing colored AirPods, sticking with the minimalist white design that echoed its earlier iPod-era headphones.
The decision helped cement AirPods as a recognizable accessory, though it meant abandoning more playful options.Since the launch in 2016, Apple AirPods have become of the most successful Apple products with the white charging case and earbuds becoming instantly recognizable worldwide. While third-party companies have offered custom-painted versions in various colors, Apple itself has never officially launched AirPods in anything other than white.
Apple launched AirPods Pro 3 with heart rate sensors, Live Translation this year
Nearly half a decade after their debut, AirPods Pro are getting refreshed for the third time, three years after their last outing. Apple has added a heart sensor, improved the sound, and enhanced the active noise cancellation.Apple says they've redesigned the airflow system inside the earbuds that widens the sound stage. The ear tips are now foam-infused, doubling the noise cancellation compared to the previous generation AirPods Pro.
Apple says the difference is "night-and-day" when compared to the original AirPods Pro from 2019.The AirPods Pro 3, in Apple's words, are the "best fitting AirPods ever." Apple said it analysed tens of thousands of ears and made each earbud smaller to fit ear canals better. To ensure a better fit, Apple will be shipping five sizes of ear tips with these. They're now also IP57 sweat and water resistant.The "awe-dropping" moment of the AirPods Pro 3 is the new heart sensor, which uses a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that "shines invisible infrared light pulsed at 256 times per second to measure light absorption in blood flow."