The Apple AirPods Pro had been amongst our favourite wi-fi earbuds in 2022 for good purpose. Not solely do they provide energetic noise cancellation, however in addition they ship very good audio, making your music and podcast listening experiences even higher. Considering how a lot cash you already spent on them, grabbing some further equipment might look like overkill. But that cash is the precise purpose you may need among the finest AirPods Pro circumstances round to guard them. On high of that, there are lots extra equipment nicely value your cash.
Apple’s AirPods Pro are probably the most in style pairs of earbuds in the marketplace proper now, and there is a complete accent ecosystem constructed round them. The choices are seemingly limitless, whether or not you wish to improve your eartips or defend your AirPods and their case from scuffs. You can customise your AirPods for exercises, journey, air journey and extra. There are loads of add-ons that may make them simpler, too.
Because AirPods Pro are usually a bit dear, even if you discover a whole lot, it is value investing in among the finest AirPods circumstances accessible for that further safety. Many circumstances provide drop safety and hold scratches at bay, however there are different perks to sure circumstances, too. You can get a wi-fi charging case fabricated from real leather-based or silicone. You can discover a waterproof case, a enjoyable carrying case, a carabiner clip or one thing that hangs out of your keychain. If you are seeking to personalize issues, you possibly can even get an AirPods case cowl or an AirPods pores and skin.
You’ll want to begin someplace, so here is a have a look at a few of CNET’s high picks of equipment for AirPods, based mostly by myself hands-on expertise. Most of them fall into the protecting case and earbud enhancement classes, with a number of different attention-grabbing issues I’ve discovered. I’ll replace this as I check extra of the perfect AirPods Pro circumstances and equipment.
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You can discover cheaper knockoff variations of Catalyst’s AirPods Pro case ($30), however the Catalyst is a greater Apple AirPod case than most of the imitators, to not point out one of many high AirPods case choices you should buy. This AirPods case cowl protects your AirPods’ personal case, in addition to makes it absolutely waterproof. Another key characteristic: The bundled removable carabiner permits you to strap the AirPods case onto a belt loop or backpack or use it as a keychain case to assist hold your wi-fi earbuds from getting misplaced. This Catalyst waterproof case is at the moment accessible in black, blue or purple. Expect extra colours sooner or later.
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For a number of years, Comply has been the gold customary for reminiscence foam eartips and now you may get Comply ideas to your AirPods Pro. I attempted them and so they work fairly nicely and even the big tip match simply fantastic within the AirPods Pro charging case. With the Apple-issued ideas, I discovered that the AirPod Pro in my left ear obtained a bit of unfastened once I ran with the buds. With the Comply tip, it did not get unfastened and match very securely. They additionally appear to assist a bit with noise-canceling since you get an excellent tighter seal.
Comply ideas are pretty dear at $25. You can get foam ideas that value much less (extra like $12 to $15), however as I stated, Comply is the gold customary and it might be value paying a bit of extra. If you already know your particular measurement, you do get three units of ideas in a pack (of the identical measurement. Comply additionally sells a pack with small, medium and enormous ideas although it is at the moment solely accessible on the Comply web site, not Amazon). That may be a very good choice to your new AirPods Pro eartips when you’ve got a few individuals in your loved ones who personal the AirPods Pro and have completely different sized ears.
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Speck’s preliminary AirPods Pro circumstances, the Presidio Pro and Presidio Perfect-Clear, are respectable however not something particular. However, the newer Presidio ClickFlip is extra intriguing. It gives IPX5 water resistance, in addition to mud resistance and is usually well-designed although a bit thicker than extra minimalist AirPods Pro circumstances.
The Lightning port is roofed by a gasket, however the port continues to be straightforward to entry, and wi-fi charging works fantastic though the case is thicker. Also, the carabiner appears securely hooked up to the case (with some silicone circumstances, the carabiner can find yourself getting torn off for those who snag the case on one thing). The case has a form of band that slides up and clicks into the lid, locking it down.
The ClickFlip is often accessible in three colour choices, however at the moment the one one which’s in inventory is the blue model.
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The husband-and-wife group of Charlie and Jen at CharJenPro pulled off a profitable Kickstarter for AirPods foam earbuds in early 2020 and now have a rising line of AirPods Pro foam eartips, together with the brand new AirFoams Pro Active ($28) which have a silicone layer over the froth that is designed to guard the information from sweat and ear wax and assist them last more (the corporate claims 3 times longer).
CharJenPro additionally sells its AirFoams Pro Form Fit eartips (at the moment unavailable) which have a barely extra convex form than the unique AirFoams Pro ($14). (Note: I did discover that the big Comply tip is barely bigger than the big CharJenPro AirFoams Pro Form Fit tip, and it is also most likely value declaring that for those who usually use a medium tip to your AirPods Pro, chances are you’ll wish to go along with a big foam tip right here).
The AirFoams Pro Active embody three completely different sized ideas (small, medium and enormous), so you possibly can select the tip measurement that matches you finest and presumably move the opposite ideas onto mates). Since I do know I require a big tip, I’d want it if there was an choice that included a few units massive ideas as an alternative — that will be the higher worth — however CharJen Pro would not provide that choice.
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Amazon
Again, in terms of generic robust circumstances, there are dozens accessible on Amazon. However, this mannequin from amBand, which primarily sells smartwatch bands, manages to face out for its engaging design and cheap value (round $10 and generally rather less). Just be warned that it is a bit of cumbersome, however you possibly can nonetheless wirelessly cost your AirPods Pro with the case on. It’s accessible in 4 colour choices and comes with a carabiner.
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If you are a PopSockets fan, the PopSockets PopGrip AirPods Pro Holder + PopChain 2 is a surprisingly whole lot on Amazon for $20. It has a stick on attachment for the again of your cellphone, that allows you to clip the case (and the AirPods Pro) to your cellphone. Or you possibly can connect your AirPods Pro to the included PopChain 2, which clips onto your belt loop or the loop in your backpack. The case itself suits like a glove and appears properly protecting.
Note that the model I obtained included the PopChain Premium. The mannequin linked right here consists of the PopChain 2, which has a carabiner clip as an alternative of a keychain. The case is appropriate with PopSockets’ PopGrip base so you should utilize it with one other PopGrip for those who personal one already.
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Nomad makes good leather-based circumstances for the iPhone and the unique AirPods. Its Rugged AirPods Pro case is likely one of the finest I’ve examined. This AirPod Pro case suits like a glove and wears properly over time. It’s accessible in three colours.
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You have a few selections if you wish to add some extra grip to the AirPods Pro to advertise them staying in your ears extra securely. You can get very skinny silicone skins that cowl the bud portion of the AirPods Pro or a set of wings like these that not solely cowl the bud however add a sport fin (they do assist lock the AirPods Pro in your ears). The solely problem with the fin strategy is that the AirPods Pro will not match of their case with an appendage on them so you must take away them everytime you wish to cost the AirPods.
It’s truly fairly straightforward to get them on and off however you simply should keep away from dropping them. Two units of ear hooks are included — one which’s translucent (proven right here) and one which’s white.
If you go the silicone pores and skin route (with no fin), it is best to have the ability to get your AirPods within the case with out having to take the skins off. However, some individuals complain that as a result of the rubber is so skinny it tends to stretch simply and find yourself not becoming in addition to it ought to. That is not an issue with CharJenPro AirFoams Pro Ear Hooks (and different ear-hook equipment) as a result of the rubber is thicker and extra sturdy.
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Amazon
What do you do if you wish to use your AirPods with an in-flight leisure system or the TV constructed right into a machine on the gymnasium that requires a wired connection? Well, one workaround is shopping for a Bluetooth transmitter that you would be able to plug into any 3.5mm audio jack. There are a number of transmitters accessible from TaoTronics and different little-known manufacturers.
To pair your AirPods with a transmitter, you must flip off the Bluetooth in your cellphone (or simply put it into airplane mode), put your AirPods of their case, maintain down the Bluetooth button on the transmitter till it goes into pairing mode, after which hit the pairing button on the AirPods case. (This video explains how one can pair to your AirPods.)
Battery life is rated at 16 hours and the AirFly Pro makes use of Bluetooth 5.0.
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Satechi
If you are searching for a mini USB-C wi-fi charging dock to your AirPods Pro (or customary AirPods), this Satechi accent suits the invoice properly. It’s very compact — principally barely larger than the AirPods Pro’s case — and simply suits in a pocket. It works with any USB-C port that outputs energy. The solely problem is that you might have bother plugging it in when you’ve got some type of case in your pc (it has to plug all the way in which into the port to work).
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Made of rugged leather-based and outfitted with a snap closing system, as nicely a “loss-prevention” S-Clip, Twelve South’s AirSnap leather-based case is a barely completely different tackle an Apple AirPods Pro case. It’s accessible in a number of colours in leather-based, and relying on the colour, costs vary from $20 to $40. You can wirelessly cost your AirPods Pro with the leather-based case on.
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Anker
The AirPods Pro can cost wirelessly, so you may want a wi-fi charging pad to reap the benefits of that characteristic. inexpensive choice for each your AirPods Pro and your cellphone is the Anker PowerWave. It gives 7.5-watt charging to your iPhone and 10-watt charging for Android fashions that assist it. It prices $14 to $17, relying on the colour, however generally goes on sale for lower than $10. Available in black, white and blue.
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Amazon
If you are searching for a extra inexpensive approach to verify your AirPods do not drop out of your ears, these clear-colored ear hooks can at the moment be had for $6. Of course, you do must take them off to cost your AirPods Pro, however for those who’re a biker who’s fearful about dropping a bud, that is definitely an inexpensive choice to strive.
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If cash isn’t any object, I’ve obtained an AirPods Pro case for you: the Gray Raptor Titanium. At $199, it principally prices as a lot because the AirPods Pro themselves. It’s not truly made out of titanium however has aerospace-grade titanium bits inlayed into its design, together with inserts on the flanks for a “more ergonomic grip,” based on Gray, and a triangular aspect that frames the AirPods’ charging LED, giving the case — and your AirPods Pro — a type of Iron Man vibe.
The case additionally is available in variations with aluminum “variants” that brings the value all the way down to $130. All of Gray’s circumstances are handcrafted, and the corporate says, “Make no mistake about it, this is a work of art, not a case.”
I do not know if I’d personally pay $199 for it, however it’s a candy case (although not waterproof, and it does entice some mud) and I had no bother wirelessly charging the AirPods Pro with the Raptor on.
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I like Catalyst’s unique Waterproof Case (see above — $30) however in order for you one thing that delivers most safety, its newer Total Protection case definitely measures as much as its title. If you occur to drop your AirPods within the ocean or a deep lake, the case is rated as waterproof all the way down to 330 ft (100 meters). It’s additionally shock-proof.
Catalyst’s unique Waterproof case has a rubberized end, whereas this has a tough plastic end. Both embody a carabiner and this mannequin actually clamps shut. Still, you possibly can entry your AirPods pretty rapidly. The case is out there in military inexperienced or black.
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Once upon a time, Apple made iPod Socks for its unique music participant. Now Native Union is bringing the entire iSock idea again with its AirPods Beanies, which any AirPods (besides the AirPods Max) will match into. What’s good is that you simply get 4 AirPods Beanies in a pack, so when you’ve got a number of AirPods in your family, you are lined. The Beanie works surprisingly nicely as a easy overlaying to your AirPods case — and it is washable.
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The critiques for the ZenPod fidget spinner case could also be a bit of combined on Amazon, however I’ve at all times preferred it and whereas it would not spin as quick or easily as a high quality fidget spinner, it does spin moderately nicely and provides you one thing to do along with your AirPods Pro whereas they’re sitting round.
It does say you possibly can wirelessly cost your AirPods within the case, however I did a number of instances and issues heated up a bit so I went with wired charging as a result of it appeared safer. Also, it is arduous to inform they’re charging as a result of the LED that allows you to initially know the AirPods are charging is hidden underneath the case.
The ZenPod Pro is available in black or tan colours. It’s a enjoyable case.
