Much like the white headphones they effectively replaced, AirPods are instantly recognizable and designed to work well with other Apple products. With a bunch of custom features built on top of wireless Bluetooth audio, and several sizes to choose from, AirPods have made listening to things on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac as simple as putting in some earbuds.
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But even if they sound great out of the box, that doesn’t mean the right accessory can’t make using them that much more enjoyable. No product, not even Apple’s extra-thoughtfully designed ones, is one size fits all. Your AirPods might not feel right in your ear, their case might get scratched easily, or you might run into a situation where a simple Bluetooth connection isn’t enough. That’s when accessories step in to make up the difference, and we think the collection below has something for everyone.
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Twelve South AirFly Pro
Best overall AirPods accessory
Designed for using your AirPods in the traditionally wired headphone-environment of airplanes, the Twelve South AirFly Pro works just as well for transmitting audio to your earbuds, as it does when receiving audio you’re transmitting from somewhere else. With over 25 hours of battery life, it will be able to do it for a while, too.
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Cobbcob Magnetic AirPods Strap
Best affordable AirPods accessory
The Cobbcob Magnetic AirPods Strap is croakies for your AirPods. If you’ve ever worried about losing an earbud while running, you can attach them to this strap, and they’ll dangle around your neck rather than fall on the ground. This pair can also magnetically attach together, so they don’t get tangled.
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Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe
Best premium AirPods accessory
$76 $80 Save $4
Belkin makes plenty of great charging accessories and the BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Pad is the simplest way to always wake up with your phone and AirPods charged. It can charge iPhones with 15W fast charging thanks to MagSafe, and top up your AirPods at 5W.
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ProCase Hard Carrying Case with Sleep Mode Cover
Best case for AirPods Max
$30 $38 Save $8
The ProCase Hard Carrying Case upgrades the default AirPods Max case. It includes a “Sleep Mode Cover” that you can use as a backup for your Smart Case, and a hard case that can wrap around your AirPods Max entirely. Protection and style in one package.
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Comply AirPods Pro Foam Ear Tips
Best replacement AirPods Pro tips
The Comply Foam Ear Tips are a much more moldable and comfortable alternative to the tips Apple ships with the AirPods Pro. The Comply tips are a fantastic fix because they’re made from a memory foam that shapes to the inside of your ears, even if they only last for a few months at a time.
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OtterBox Core Series Case for AirPods Pro
Best AirPods Pro case
The OtterBox Core Series Case for AirPods Pro extends protection to your wireless earbuds. The grippy, colorful case is able to protect your AirPods from bumps and scratches without cutting off access to their ports or speaker. It’s a slim case overall, and made from 50% recycled material, and should offer some added peace of mind.
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Incase AirPods Pro Lanyard
Best lanyard strap for AirPods Pro
The Incase AirPods Pro Lanyard might cost too much for what it is, but its simple design makes it look good, and keeps your wireless earbuds secure whether they’re around your wrist or tied to your backpack.
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Proof Labs AirPods Hooks
Best wing tips for AirPods
$16 $20 Save $4
A lot of wireless and wired earbuds use “wings” to keep themselves firmly planted in your ear. The Proof Labs AirPods Hooks or “GripTips” are for anyone who’s used to those and struggling with Apple’s decidedly round and smooth AirPods. The hook keeps them in your ears, and they’re treated, so they’re antibacterial too.
Can AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) use 1st Generation cases?
It depends. Despite largely looking the same and being the same size, the case of the 2nd generation AirPods Pro includes different components and features than the first generation. Namely, speaker cutouts and a slot for a lanyard, along with the Lightning or USB-C port. You can cover all of them with an old AirPods Pro case and still find it useful — all waterproof cases will do this — but you might not want to if you’re trying to take advantage of all the new parts of the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). How else will you hear the case ringing when you look for it with the Find My app?
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Best AirPods tips and tricks: Get more out of Apple’s headphones
Our top tested hacks on how to get the most out of your AirPods from extending the battery, having messages announced, and more.
Unfortunately, yes. While you can technically charge your AirPods with the case lid open, it’s not particularly convenient and most add-ons to the AirPods themselves would probably get in the way of them charging. For the smoothest charging experience, pull those Proof Labs GripTips off and unhook your AirPods from their strap. It’s annoying, but it’s going to be what works the best and charges them the fastest.
