Best AirPods accessories for 2023

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  Catalyst case
  

  
  $23 at Amazon
  

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  Speck Presidio Pro
  

  
  See at Amazon
  

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  EarBuddyz 2.0 Ear Hooks
  

  
  $20 at Amazon
  

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  EarBuddyz Ultra
  

  
  $11 at Amazon
  

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  ZenPod (Update: Out of stock)
  

  
  See at Amazon
  

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  Apple Wireless Charging Case for AirPods
  

  
  $55 at Amazon
  

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  Twelve South AirSnap case
  

  
  $35 at Amazon
  

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  Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds
  

  
  $9 at Amazon
  

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You might think you have everything you need when you get a pair of Apple’s popular AirPods, but there is a litany of accessories that can bolster your listening experience. Supplementary cases and other compatible Apple AirPods add-ons can help overcome minor shortcomings (which, for some people, are huge shortcomings). The best AirPods accessories help your shiny new gadget to stay in its original condition for months.

These picks for the best AirPods accessories are based on my own hands-on experience and are mostly cases (including one charging case) and earbud enhancements, with a few other interesting AirPod accessories I’ve found. Note that these top picks of AirPods accessories are based on the non-Pro, or standard, versions of the true wireless earbuds. 

Read more: Best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds of 2023    

Sarah Tew/CNET

Catalyst case

You can find cheaper knockoff versions of Catalyst’s AirPods Case ($25), but the Catalyst is arguably the best AirPods rugged case you can buy. Not only does this act as a cover to protect your AirPods’ case but it also makes your case fully waterproof. Another key feature: The bundled carabiner lets you strap the case onto a belt loop or backpack or use it as a keychain case to help keep your wireless earbuds from getting lost. The case is available in a few different color options, including a glow-in-the-dark version and special Apple Store-only colors for $5 more.

Read more about the Catalyst case.

 

$23 at Amazon

Sarah Tew/CNET

Speck Presidio Pro

When I first saw the name of this accessory, I thought it was for the AirPods Pro. But Speck’s first AirPods case is actually for the standard AirPods. While it’s somewhat pricey at $30, the design is better than many AirPods cases, with a hard plastic shell rather than the soft silicone finish of the Catalyst cases. The loop where the included carabiner connects to the case is more durable than the loop on the Catalyst case. 

See at Amazon

Sarah Tew/CNET

EarBuddyz 2.0 Ear Hooks

Some people find AirPods fit so securely in their ears that they can run with them. But other ears, like mine, aren’t perfect AirPod receptacles. And that’s where silicone cover options come in, including many that feature integrated earhooks or “sport fins.” 

I’ve used the EarBuddyz, which now come in a version 2.0, but you can find plenty of other similar options, including ones from AhaStyle and others that work with both EarPods and AirPods. They all cost around $10 for two or three sets of hooks.

The only issue is that to get the AirPods back in their case you have to remove the fins and store them somewhere. That’s a nuisance, and you might want to invest in a case that fits both the AirPods and EarBuddyz. The new AhaStyle ear hooks come with a little carrying pouch for the hooks but not for your AirPods.

Read more.

 

$20 at AmazonYou’re receiving price alerts for EarBuddyz 2.0 Ear Hooks

Read more: Best wireless headphones for making calls

Sarah Tew/CNET

EarBuddyz Ultra

The EarBuddyz Ultra are similar to the AhaStyle option (they might have been made in the same factory) — and cost the same price ($14). They do come with three sizes of ear tips instead of two. I would have liked for an XL tip to be included. The large tip didn’t create a tight seal for me, but it did create some noise-isolation and improve the bass performance of the AirPods.

$11 at AmazonYou’re receiving price alerts for EarBuddyz Ultra

Sarah Tew/CNET

ZenPod (Update: Out of stock)

The fidget-spinner craze may have come and gone, but the $25 ZenPod from Air Vinyl Design may help bring it back.

Yes, this is the first spinning case for your AirPods, and it’s frankly kind of ingenious. Available in three color options, the ZenPod has precision bearings on each side of the leather case that give it that spin factor that we’ve all secretly craved.

Alas, this leather case doesn’t add wireless charging case capabilities to your AirPods case (where is that new case, Apple?), so it’s not totally zen, but who knows — maybe we’ll see that battery charging feature in a future version? 

Read more.

 

See at Amazon

Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Wireless Charging Case for AirPods

Apple’s new $249 AirPods Pro comes with a wireless charging case, but Apple also sells a wireless case separately for customers of the first-generation AirPods. The only issue is that this wireless charging case costs $79, which seems a tad pricey for the ability to have an easy way to charge your earbuds, especially as no charging pad is included with this AirPods charging case. (The Belkin pictured here is an additional $45.)

$55 at AmazonYou’re receiving price alerts for Apple Wireless Charging Case for AirPods

David Carnoy/CNET

Twelve South AirSnap case

Made of rugged leather and equipped with a snap closing system, as well “loss-prevention” clip, Twelve South’s AirSnap leather case is a little bit of a different take on an AirPods case. It’s available in three color options in leather for $35. 

$35 at AmazonYou’re receiving price alerts for Twelve South AirSnap case

Sarah Tew

Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds

Why would we put a set of wired earbuds in a roundup of AirPod accessories? Well, if you don’t shell out for a Bluetooth transmitter (about $30), you won’t be able to use your AirPods on a plane to watch in-flight entertainment. Of course, you could ante up for an expensive set of noise-canceling headphones (you can see our top noise-canceling picks here), but it doesn’t hurt to have a cheap, durable, good-sounding pair of wired headphones on hand. We’ve always liked the Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120 earphones, which cost less than $9.

Read full review.

 

$9 at Amazon

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