Technologies
Best AirPods Pro Accessories for 2023: Cases, Eartips, Wireless In-Flight Transmitters and Chargers
There are plenty of accessories for Apple’s popular true wireless earbuds. Take a look at some of the best AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 cases and more.
The original Apple AirPods Pro and the new AirPods Pro 2 are among the most popular earbuds on the market, with both earning CNET Editors Choice Awards. If you’re here, you probably already own the AirPods Pro or the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation and are looking for a case to protect your investment or perhaps another accessory, of which there are many. While the AirPods Pro are in fact accessories, like other popular Apple products, they’ve created a cottage industry of companion accessories, including ones that allow you to customize your AirPods Pro earbuds for workouts, adventure, air travel and more.
The AirPods Pro 2 are the same size as the original AirPods Pro. However, there are some small differences, the most notable of which are the microphone configuration on the buds and a built-in speaker in the AirPods Pro 2’s charging case that emits a sonar-like sound when tracking the buds in the Find My app. Also, there’s now a spot on the AirPods Pro 2’s case to attach a lanyard.
While cases designed for the original AirPods Pro case will fit the AirPods Pro 2 just fine, a case specifically designed for the AirPods Pro 2 will have cutouts for the speaker port and lanyard loop. If you want a waterproof case for your AirPods 2 (or AirPods Pro), those tend to cover all the ports. You can buy a simple, cheap case made of silicone rubber that provides decent protection should you drop your case. Or you can buy fancier cases, some even made of leather, that give your AirPods case a more premium look while also providing protection.
Here’s a look at CNET’s current top picks of accessories for AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 based on my own hands-on experience. I’ll update this as I test more of the best AirPods Pro cases and accessories.
David Carnoy/CNET
You can find cheaper knockoff versions of Catalyst’s AirPods Pro case ($30), but the Catalyst is a better Apple AirPod case than many of the imitators, not to mention one of the top AirPods case options you can purchase. This AirPods case cover protects your AirPods’ own case, as well as makes it fully waterproof. Another key feature: The bundled detachable carabiner lets you strap the AirPods case onto a belt loop or backpack or use it as a keychain case to help keep your wireless earbuds from getting lost. This Catalyst waterproof case is available in multiple color options.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 (but covers speaker port and lanyard loop).
David Carnoy/CNET
For several years, Comply has been the gold standard for memory foam eartips and now you can get Comply tips for your AirPods Pro. I tried them and they work quite well, and even the large tips fit just fine in the AirPods Pro charging case. With the Apple-issued tips, I found that the AirPod Pro in my left ear got a little loose when I ran with the buds. With the Comply tip, it didn’t get loose and fit very securely. They also seem to help a bit with noise-canceling because you get an even tighter seal.
Comply tips are fairly pricey at $25. You can get foam tips that cost less (more like $12 to $15), but as I said, Comply is the gold standard and it may be worth paying a little more. If you know your specific size, you do get three sets of tips in a pack (of the same size. Comply also sells a pack with small, medium and large tips though it’s currently only available on the Comply website, not Amazon). That might be a good option for your new AirPods Pro eartips if you have a couple of people in your family who own the AirPods Pro and have different-sized ears.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
The Caseology Nano Pop case comes in a couple of color options and is one of the early cases specifically designed for the AirPods Pro 2. While it doesn’t include a lanyard, it does come with a carabiner and has a cutout for the charging LED and dimple over the pairing button.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro 2 only.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
I’m not sure how you can even pronounce the name of the company that produces this inexpensive AirPods Pro 2 case, but it’s only $6 in certain colors (it’s offered in several color options, some of which cost around $10) and it does the job. This case is specifically designed for the AirPods Pro 2 and several similarly styled budget cases are available on Amazon (they’re all your basic slim silicone rubber case). It comes with a lanyard and a gasket covers the Lightning port.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro 2 only.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
I’ve been using a pair of extra large Eartune foam tips with my AirPods Pro 2 and have been happy with the quality and fit. The extra large tips only come in gray and black, while the small, medium and large tips are available in a variety of colors. If you’re just looking for one size, you can get a pack with three large tips, for example. Or you can buy a pack with small, medium and large tips if you have friends or family who use different sized tips.
Before I put an earbud in, I scrunch the tip up and then let it expand in my ear canal. While I can use Apple’s large tips, I get a more secure fit with these tips. (When I run with the AirPods Pro 2 I use foam tips to make sure they stay in my ears.)
If you treat them well, these tips should last a few months, minimum. They’re a reasonably good value at three to a pack.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
Spigen’s Rugged Armor case returns for the AirPods Pro 2. It’s available in only one color at launch but it is protective and includes a carabiner though no lanyard.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro 2 only.
David Carnoy/CNET
The husband-and-wife team of Charlie and Jen at CharJenPro pulled off a successful Kickstarter for AirPods foam earbuds in early 2020 and created a line of AirPods Pro foam eartips. Their top model is the AirFoams Pro Active 2,0 ($26), which have a silicone layer over the foam that’s designed to protect the tips from sweat and ear wax and help them last longer (the company claims five times longer).
I did notice that the large Comply tip is slightly larger than the large CharJenPro AirFoams Pro Form Fit tip, and it’s also probably worth pointing out that if you typically use a medium tip for your AirPods Pro, you may want to go with a large foam tip here).
The AirFoams Pro Active include three different-sized tips (small, medium and large), so you can choose the tip size that fits you best and possibly pass the other tips on to friends). Since I know I require a large tip, I’d prefer it if there was an option that included a couple of sets large tips instead — that would be the better value — but CharJen Pro doesn’t offer that option.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2
Sarah Tew/CNET
Nomad makes nice leather cases for the iPhone and other Apple products, including the AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2. Its Modern Leather AirPods Pro case is one of the best I’ve tested and it now comes in a version for the AirPods Pro 2 (it remains available for the original AirPods Pro as well).
This AirPods Pro case fits like a glove and wears nicely over time, developing a patina. It’s available in four colors and comes in a version with Horween leather for $10 more (the Horween version is only available in black and rustic brown).
Compatible with: Either AirPods Pro or AirPods Pro 2 (Nomad sells separate versions, so make sure you get the right one for 1st- or 2nd-Gen AirPods Pro).
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
If you’re looking for an affordable wireless charging dock for several of your Apple devices, the Anker Foldable 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station 335 is about as good a deal as you can get on one. This isn’t MagSafe-enabled and it won’t charge your iPhone at top speed (it only charges at 7.5W), but it’s a nice compact dock that will also charge your AirPods and Apple Watch (however, you have to supply the wireless charging puck for the Apple Watch).
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
The AirPods Pro 2 are MagSafe enabled but once you put a case on the case, it’s no longer magnetic. That’s where a magnetic case like the Spigen Mag Armor comes in, restoring MagSafe compatibility so your case will stick to a MagSafe wireless charger (or any magnetic wireless charger). A carabiner is included but no lanyard.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro 2 only.
David Carnoy/CNET
If you’re a PopSockets fan, the PopSockets PopGrip AirPods Pro Holder + PopChain 2 is a surprisingly good deal on Amazon for $16. It has a stick-on attachment for the back of your phone, that lets you clip the case (and the AirPods Pro) to your phone and use your AirPods Pro case as a kickstand for video watching. Or you can attach your AirPods Pro to the included PopChain 2, which clips onto your belt loop or the loop on your backpack. The case itself fits like a glove and seems nicely protective.
Note that the version I got included the PopChain Premium. The model linked here includes the PopChain 2, which has a carabiner clip instead of a keychain. The case is compatible with PopSockets’ PopGrip base so you can use it with another PopGrip if you own one already.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 (but covers speaker port and lanyard loop).
David Carnoy/CNET
You have a couple of choices if you want to add some additional grip to the AirPods Pro to promote them staying in your ears more securely. You can get very thin silicone skins that cover the bud portion of the AirPods Pro or a set of wings like these that not only cover the bud but add a sport fin (they do help lock the AirPods Pro in your ears). The only issue with the fin approach is that the AirPods Pro won’t fit in their case with an appendage on them so you have to remove them whenever you want to charge the AirPods.
It’s actually pretty easy to get them on and off but you just have to avoid losing them. Two sets of ear hooks are included — one that’s translucent (shown here) and one that’s white.
If you go the silicone skin route (with no fin), you should be able to get your AirPods in the case without having to take the skins off. However, some people complain that because the rubber is so thin it has a tendency to stretch easily and end up not fitting as well as it should. That isn’t a problem with CharJenPro AirFoams Pro Ear Hooks (and other ear-hook accessories) because the rubber is thicker and more durable.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Amazon
What do you do if you want to use your AirPods with an in-flight entertainment system or the TV built into a machine at the gym that requires a wired connection? Well, one workaround is buying a Bluetooth transmitter that you can plug into any 3.5mm audio jack. There are several transmitters available from TaoTronics and other little-known brands.
To pair your AirPods with a transmitter, you have to turn off the Bluetooth on your phone (or just put it into airplane mode), put your AirPods in their case, hold down the Bluetooth button on the transmitter until it goes into pairing mode, and then hit the pairing button on the AirPods case. (This video explains how to pair to your AirPods.) Battery life is rated at 16 hours and the AirFly Pro uses Bluetooth 5.0.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
Based in Austin, Texas, Bluebonnet is named after the state flower and crafts leather-clad accessories for various Apple products, including iPhones, MacBooks, Watches and AirPods. Its AirPods Pro and new AirPods Pro 2 cases are a bit slimmer than Nomad’s leather cases, but offer ample protection and have a distinct style with turquoise trim lines. Your AirPods charging case is designed to slide up a little as you open the Bluebonnet case so the bottom portion doesn’t fit as snugly as some AirPods Pro cases. Nonetheless, I found it worked well.
Satechi
If you’re looking for a mini USB-C wireless charging dock for your AirPods Pro (or standard AirPods), this Satechi accessory fits the bill nicely. It’s very compact — basically slightly bigger than the AirPods Pro’s case — and easily fits in a pocket. It works with any USB-C port that outputs power. The only issue is that you may have trouble plugging it in if you have some sort of case on your computer (it has to plug all the way into the port to work).
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Anker
The AirPods Pro can charge wirelessly, so you’ll need a wireless charging pad to take advantage of that feature. A good affordable option for both your AirPods Pro and your phone is the Anker Wireless Charging Pad 315. It offers 7.5-watt charging for your iPhone and 10-watt charging for Android models that support it. It costs $15 but is sometimes on sale for only $10. A cable but no power adapter is included.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
There are a number of inexpensive lanyards you can pick up for the AirPods Pro 2. This Spigen one is a little thicker than some on Amazon. Alternatives like the HiFan Lanyard ($6.50) should also work just fine for you but are designed a bit differently.
Amazon
If you’re looking for a more affordable way to make sure your AirPods don’t drop out of your ears, these clear-colored ear hooks can currently be had for $6. Of course, you do need to take them off to charge your AirPods Pro, but if you’re a biker who’s worried about losing a bud, this is certainly a cheap option to try.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
I personally don’t like the idea of adding a wire to true-wireless earbuds, but plenty of people have asked me about «anti-lost» cords for AirPods over the years. There are several cheap versions available on Amazon but the Cobcobb is one of the better ones even though it costs a few bucks more at a little over $10. Some competing models come in packs with multiple cords in different colors. However, this is a single cord with built-in magnets that allows you to clasp your AirPods Pro together around your neck when not in use — just like the Beats Flex earbuds.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2.
David Carnoy/CNET
I like Catalyst’s original Waterproof Case (see above — $30) but if you want something that delivers maximum protection, its newer Total Protection case certainly measures up to its title. If you happen to drop your AirPods in the ocean or a deep lake, the case is rated as waterproof down to 330 feet (100 meters). It’s also shock-proof.
Catalyst’s original Waterproof case has a rubberized finish, while this has a hard plastic finish. Both include a carabiner and this model literally clamps shut. Still, you can access your AirPods fairly quickly. The case is available in army green or black.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 (but covers speaker port and lanyard loop).
David Carnoy/CNET
Speck’s initial AirPods Pro cases, the Presidio Pro and Presidio Perfect-Clear, are decent but not anything special. However, the newer Presidio ClickFlip is more intriguing. It offers IPX5 water resistance, as well as dust resistance and is generally well-designed though a bit thicker than more minimalist AirPods Pro cases.
The Lightning port is covered by a gasket, but the port is still easy to access, and wireless charging works fine even though the case is thicker. Also, the carabiner seems securely attached to the case (with some silicone cases, the carabiner can end up getting torn off if you snag the case on something). The case has a kind of band that slides up and clicks into the lid, locking it down.
The ClickFlip is usually available in three color options, but the only one that’s currently in stock is the blue version.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 (but covers speaker port and lanyard loop).
Sarah Tew/CNET
Made of rugged leather and equipped with a snap closing system, as well a «loss-prevention» S-Clip, Twelve South’s AirSnap leather case is a slightly different take on an Apple AirPods Pro case. It’s available in several colors in leather, and depending on the color, prices range from $20 to $40. You can wirelessly charge your AirPods Pro with the leather case on.
Compatible with: AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 (but covers speaker port and lanyard loop).
More AirPods and headphone advice
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Google races to put Gemini at the center of Android before Apple’s AI reboot
Google is using its latest Android rollout to position Gemini as the AI layer across phones, Chrome, laptops and cars.
Google is using its latest Android rollout to make Gemini less of a chatbot and more of an operating layer across the phone, browser, car and laptop, just weeks before Apple is expected to show its own Gemini-powered Apple Intelligence reboot at WWDC.
Ahead of its Google I/O developer conference next week, the company previewed a number of Android updates, including AI-powered app automation, a smarter version of Chrome on Android, new tools for creators, a redesigned Android Auto experience, and a sweeping set of new security features.
Alphabet is counting on Gemini to help Google compete directly with OpenAI and Anthropic in the market for artificial intelligence models and services, while also serving as the AI backbone across its expansive portfolio of products, including Android. Meanwhile, Gemini is powering part of Apple’s new AI strategy, giving Google a role in the iPhone maker’s reset even as it races to prove its own version of personal AI on the phone is further along.
Sameer Samat, who oversees Google’s Android ecosystem, told CNBC that Google is rebuilding parts of Android around Gemini Intelligence to help users complete everyday tasks more easily.
“We’re transitioning from an operating system to an intelligence system,” he said.
As part of Tuesday’s announcements. Google said Gemini Intelligence will be able to move across apps, understand what’s on the screen and complete tasks that would normally require a user to jump between multiple services. That means Android is moving beyond the traditional assistant model, where users ask a question and get an answer, and acting more like an agent.
For instance, Google says Gemini can pull relevant information from Gmail, build shopping carts and book reservations. Samat gave the example of asking Gemini to look at the guest list for a barbecue, build a menu, add ingredients to an Instacart list and return for approval before checkout.
A big concern surrounding agentic AI involves software taking action on a user’s behalf without permissions. Samat said Gemini will come back to the user before completing a transaction, adding, “the human is always in the loop.”
Four months after announcing its Gemini deal with Google, Apple is under pressure to show a more capable version of Apple Intelligence, which has been a relative laggard on the market. Apple has long framed privacy, hardware integration and control of the user experience as its advantages.
Google’s Android push is designed to show it can bring AI deeper into the device experience while still giving users control over what Gemini can see, where it can act and when it needs confirmation.
The app automation features will roll out in waves, starting with the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer, before expanding across more Android devices, including watches, cars, glasses and laptops later this year.
The company is also redesigning Android Auto around Gemini, turning the car into another major surface for its assistant. Android Auto is in more than 250 million cars, and Google says the new release includes its biggest maps update in a decade and Gemini-powered help with tasks like ordering dinner while driving.
Alphabet’s AI strategy has been embraced by Wall Street, which has pushed the company’s stock price up more than 140% in the past year, compared to Apple’s roughly 40% gain. Investors now want to see how Gemini can become more central to the products people use every day.
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Waymo issued a voluntary recall of about 3,800 of its robotaxis to fix software issues that could allow them to drive into flooded roadways.
Waymo is recalling about 3,800 robotaxis in the U.S. to fix software issues that could allow them to “drive onto a flooded roadway,” according to a letter on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
The voluntary recall is for Waymo vehicles that use the company’s fifth and sixth generation automated driving systems (or ADS), the U.S. auto safety regulator said in the letter posted Tuesday.
Waymo autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas, were seen on camera driving onto a flooded street and stalling, requiring other drivers to navigate around them. It’s the latest example of a safety-related issue for the Alphabet-owned AV unit that’s rapidly bolstering its fleet of vehicles and entering new U.S. markets.
Waymo has drawn criticism for its vehicles failing to yield to school buses in Austin, and for the performance of its vehicles during widespread power outages in San Francisco in December, when robotaxis halted in traffic, causing gridlock.
The company said in a statement on Tuesday that it’s “identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways,” and opted to file a “voluntary software recall” with the NHTSA.
“Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the U.S., and safety is our primary priority,” the company said.
Waymo added that it’s working on “additional software safeguards” and has put “mitigations” in place, limiting where its robotaxis operate during extreme weather, so that they avoid “areas where flash flooding might occur” in periods of intense rain.
WATCH: Waymo launches new autonomous system in Chinese-made vehicle
Technologies
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Semiconductor stocks fell sharply on Tuesday, reversing course after an extensive rally that had expanded the artificial intelligence investment theme well past Nvidia and driven the industry to unprecedented levels.
Qualcomm plunged 13% and was on track for its steepest single-day decline since 2020. Intel shed 8%, while On Semiconductor and Skyworks Solutions each lost more than 6%. The iShares Semiconductor ETF, which benchmarks the overall sector, fell 5%.
The sell-off came after a key gauge of consumer prices came in above forecasts, and as conflict in Iran pushed crude oil higher—prompting investors to shift away from riskier assets.
The preceding advance had widened the AI opportunity set beyond longtime industry leader Nvidia, which for much of the past several years had largely carried the market to new peaks on its own.
Explosive appetite for central processing units, along with the graphics processing units that power large language models, has sent chipmakers to all-time highs.
Market participants are wagering that the shift from AI model training to autonomous agents will lift demand for additional AI hardware. Among the beneficiaries are memory chip producers, which are raising prices as supply remains tight.
Micron Technology slid 6%, and Sandisk cratered 8%. Sandisk’s stock has surged more than six times over since January.
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