Real or Fake? Lightning to USB-C Cables for Previous iMacs Shown in 'Unreleased' Colors

Apple enthusiast @StellaFudge today shared photos of USB-C to Lightning cables in six "unreleased" colors, including what appears to be teal, blue, purple, yellow, red, and orange. He said Apple allegedly planned to include the cables with Apple silicon Macs, but the cables have never been released in these exact shades.

iMac Cables StellaFudgeImage Credit: @StellaFudge

"They're darker, more vibrant, and the normally white plastic has a matching color tint," he said.

Given the cables have a Lightning connector, that means they would have been included with iMac models with the M1 chip or M3 chip, if they are authentic. The latest iMac with the M4 chip comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable for use with the new USB-C Magic accessories.

The wording of the social media post makes it sound like these cables were designed by Apple, and ultimately never released, but there is a possibility that they could be knockoff cables created by a third party. A similar photo of colorful USB-C cables surfaced last year, but the rumor that they would be included with iPhone 15 models proved to be inaccurate. It is possible that those cables were counterfeit too, but we cannot say for sure.

Apple has included color-matching cables with the iMac since the M1 model launched in 2021, but they have brighter, pastel colors.

Considering that Apple never released these deeper-colored cables, at best, or they are knockoffs, at worst, their existence does not really mean too much in the end. However, it's a fun look at something that might have been.

@StellaFudge has also shared various unreleased Apple Watch bands in the past.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Neutral)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 17's 'Awe Dropping' Accessories

Friday August 29, 2025 8:12 am PDT by
Following the announcement of Apple's upcoming "Awe dropping" event, on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show we talk through all of the new accessories rumored to debut alongside the iPhone 17 lineup. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos We take a closer look at Apple's invite for "Awe dropping;" the design could hint at the iPhone 17's new thermal system with ...

Top Rated Comments

FSMBP Avatar
11 months ago
This is why I come to this site...good old fashioned Macintosh Rumors!

For the record about those cables: they're real and they're spectacular.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tomtad Avatar
11 months ago
Can we ban the word colourways

Thanks
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
decafjava Avatar
11 months ago
Another Frieren ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frieren') fan I see. Regarding the cables I like the colours!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
11 months ago
Now that Apple isn't putting Apple stickers in the box, can we get Frieren stickers instead? ?

Anyways, the rumor about the cables is pretty awesome if true.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SeaFox Avatar
11 months ago

Another Frieren ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frieren') fan I see. Regarding the cables I like the colours!
They're autumn colors, like the kind you see on long journeys to speak to the spirits of dead comrades (with only occasional pauses to do magic and replenish snacks).
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stella_Fudge Avatar
11 months ago
In case anyone's curious, here's each of them individually

Every single one of them has a 2-D datamatrix etched onto the USB-C connector, which has its serial number and a couple of other pieces of info like the type of configuration that it is and other internal lingo that the notes how far in the development process it is. Some of them also had a sticker that was attached to the backside of the cardboard retainer piece which also has its matching serial number as a scannable datamatrix. Pretty standard stuff for prototypes. I've attached a couple more images of other prototypes that have similar markings, and if anyone's interested I can show you more from ones I personally have kicking around at home.

I'm also not really sure why they decided to tint to the plastic a little bit on each of them, white tip for plastic has been their thing since forever, and on some of them are kind of looks off. The yellow one for example just looks like it's aged in the sun for like 20 years.

Genuinely though I am absolutely in love with the colors overall. Even though I have like 16 of these cables, I only plan on keeping one of each colour so I'm gonna get rid of 10 of them in the near future.

If somebody is interested I can also post comparison of what each production colour looks like relative to each of these colours since I do have the full set of coloured release iMac lightning cable as well. I plan on getting myself a full set of USB-C coloured cables for the upcoming iMac as well. They kind of look like they're available to buy in Chinese gray market places now but I have doubts about how real those specific ones were.



some other Proto accessory examples for reference. Little cable style accessories will usually have data matrix somewhere, which has its serial number more often than not, and sometimes other bits of info. A cool insight into how the sausage is made I guess



Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)