Apple has been doing that with headphones ever since the iPod came out. iPod commercials featured black silhouetted people with the bright white headphone and cord contrasted on top[0]. Like AirPods today, it used to be a status symbol to have white headphones as that basically meant they came from Apple. [0] - [this video]
Example of iPod ads making white headphones a status symbol
Do you remember the early apple iPod TV commercials? [this video] The ones with the silhouettes of people dancing and the white cord on prominent display? There's not a single mention of what an ipod is or how much space it has or how you connect it to songs. These ads were about feelings... Not tech specs. That's what sells in the end. Were these ads a lie?
Sure, but Apple usually don't market based on features and their feature set on paper is often less impressive than competing products. Remember the iPod ads? [this video] What does that advert say? We have the best sound quality? We have the most storage? We have the best value for money? None of those things - it says you should buy this because it will make you look cool. I didn't say every single person who buys an iPhone is just trying to look cool. But that is first and foremost how they sell their products.
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