When do you need an accessory for an accessory? When it’s one of the most popular wireless headphones on the market. From Apple AirPods Pro the headphones created their own accessory ecosystem, complete with extra cases and other add-ons that help to overcome small deficiencies that, for some people, can be serious.
When it comes to Apple AirPods and accessories, there is no lack of variety. Whether you want a genuine leather case versus silicone material, a charging case or a wireless charging case, they are all available. If you want a fun carrying case, a waterproof case, something with a included carabiner or something that hangs on your key chain, these also exist. If you want to customize things even more, you can even get a cover for AirPods Pro or a cover for AirPods. The options are seemingly endless.
But you need to start from somewhere. From the best AirPods Pro case to the best wireless charger and more, here’s a look at some of CNET’s top accessory options for AirPods, based on my own hands-on experience with each product. Most of them fall into the protective case and highlight buckets on the headset, with some other interesting things I discovered. I will update this while testing more of the best AirPods Pro accessories.
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You can find cheaper fake versions of Catalyst’s AirPods Pro case ($ 30), but Catalyst is Apple’s AirPod case better than many of the imitators, not to mention one of the best AirPods cases you can buy. This AirPods case protects the case of your AirPods, in addition to making it totally waterproof. Another important feature: the included carabiner allows you to attach the case to a belt or backpack or use it as a keychain case to help prevent your wireless headphones from getting lost. This Catalyst waterproof case is currently available in black, blue or red. Expect more colors in the future.
David Carnoy / CNET
For several years, Comply has been the gold standard for viscoelastic foam olives and now you can get Comply tips for your AirPods Pro. I tried them out and they work great and even the large tip fits perfectly in the AirPods charging case Pro. With the tips provided by Apple, I found that the AirPod Pro on my left ear was a little loose when I ran with the buttons. With the Comply tip, it did not come loose and fit very securely. They also seem to help a little with noise cancellation because you get an even firmer seal.
Compliance tips are quite expensive, costing $ 25. You can get foam tips that cost less (more like $ 12- $ 15), but like I said, Fulfilling is the gold standard and may be worth paying a little more. If you know your specific size, you will receive three sets of tips in one package (the same size. Comply also sells a package with small, medium and large tips, although it is currently only available on the Comply website, not on Amazon). This can be a good option if you have a few people in your family who have AirPods Pro and have different sized ears.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Nomad makes beautiful leather cases for the iPhone and the original AirPods. Your Rugged AirPods Pro case is one of the best I’ve tested. This AirPod Pro case fits like a glove and wears very well over time. It is available in three colors.
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Charlie and Jen’s husband and wife team at CharJenPro launched a Kickstarter for AirPods foam headsets in early 2020 and now has a growing line of AirPods Pro foam headsets, including the new AirFoams Pro Form Fit that have a slightly more convex shape than the original AirFoams Pro ($ 25). A new Active model is coming, which wraps a layer of silicone over the foam.
They are similar to Comply tips, but I noticed that the large Comply tip is slightly larger than the CharJenPro AirFoams Pro Form Fit. If you normally use a medium tip for your AirPods Pro, you may want to go with a large foam tip, but the good news is that the M / L option comes with two tips, so you can try both (there is also an S option / M))
Original CharJenPro foam tips come in a variety of colors, but Form Fit is only available in black.
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There is no shortage of generic AirPods Pro case covers on Amazon. I was disappointed with several of them, including Spigen’s. This silicone case, which comes in several different color options, fit well and was thicker than some of the other generic AirPods cases I tried on. It costs just $ 6. You can get it with or without AirPods Pro printing. (Initially, many colors were available, but today that number has decreased to just a few options. Hopefully, this is a temporary situation).
Be aware that all silicone (rubber) caps tend to attract a little bit of dust.
Amazon
Again, when it comes to generic hard cases, there are dozens available on Amazon. However, this model from amBand, which sells mainly smartwatch straps, manages to stand out for its attractive design and reasonable price ($ 12). Be aware that it is a little bulky, but you can still charge your AirPods Pro wirelessly with the case on. It is available in 4 color options.
Satechi
If you’re looking for a USB-C wireless charging mini dock for your AirPods Pro (or standard AirPods), this Satechi accessory fits perfectly. It is very compact – basically a little bigger than the AirPods Pro case – and fits easily in your pocket. Works with any USB-C power outlet port. The only problem is that you may have trouble connecting it if you have some kind of case on your computer (it needs to connect fully to the port to work).
RHA
The RHA has a slightly different view than a wireless flight transmitter. It has two foldable 3.5 mm connectors: You can choose to use a 3.5 mm plug or two for older on-board systems that have two connectors. Both plugs are inserted into the transmitter. The pairing process is the same as for the Twelve South transmitter and was straightforward. Like this model, it uses Bluetooth 5.0. It is also rated for 16 hours of battery life and charges via USB-C. It also works with the Nintendo Switch.
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, an alternative solution is to buy a Bluetooth transmitter that you can connect to any 3.5 mm audio jack. There are several transmitters available from TaoTronics and other little-known brands (I also tried TaoTronics.)
To pair your AirPods with a transmitter, you must turn off Bluetooth on your phone (or just put it in airplane mode), put your AirPods on their case, hold down the Bluetooth button on the transmitter until it enters pairing mode, and then press the pairing button on the AirPods cover. (This video explains how to pair with your AirPods.)
The battery life is estimated to be 16 hours and AirFly Pro uses Bluetooth 5.0.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Made of sturdy leather and equipped with a quick closing system, as well as a “loss prevention” S-Clip, the Twelve South AirSnap leather case is a slightly different version of an Apple AirPods Pro case. It is available in three leather colors for $ 35. You can charge your AirPods Pro wirelessly with the leather case.
Anker
AirPods Pro has wireless charging, so you’ll need a wireless charging base to take advantage of this feature. A good affordable option for both your AirPods Pro and your phone is Anker PowerWave. Offers 7.5 watt charging for your iPhone and 10 watt charging for Android models that support it. It costs $ 14, but sometimes sells for less than $ 10. Available in black, white and blue.