Apple's colorful AirPods cancelled at late development stage

Apple had reportedly come close to launching a range of colorful AirPods but eventually canceled the project for unknown reasons, leaving many fans disappointed.

Although the legendary white AirPods have gained popularity, users have long dreamed of the option to match their AirPods with their iPhone colors.

Apple collector, Kosutami, who has insider sources within the company, revealed that Apple had prototyped color-matched AirPods and even planned to release them in 2016. The proposed colors included Pink, ProductRED, Purple, Black, and Blonde, designed to complement the iPhone 7 lineup (the Purple version of the iPhone 7 was canceled).

It hasn’t cancelled until DVT or PVT Stage, which means they didn't cancel the plan until they were close to the launch
— Kosutami (@KosutamiSan) May 30, 2023

Design Validation Test (DVT) and Product Validation Test (PVT) are critical stages where the manufacturing process is tested and refined before mass production.

The available photos showcase a color AirPods case, but it remains unclear whether Apple intended to offer the color options for the charging case alone or for the actual AirPods themselves. The photos reveal white AirPods inside a color case, raising questions about Apple's original intentions.