Our picks of the best AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 cases, wireless chargers, third-party foam ear tips, Bluetooth transmitters, lanyards and more.
Updated Jan. 18, 2024 6:55 p.m. PT Appliance Insulation Formulation Additives
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Make sure the accessory you're buying is compatible with the AirPods Pro model you own.
While a cheaper accessory may be fine, note that more premium accessories tend to cost more and likely hold up better over time.
You want an accessory that holds up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Buy your accessory at a retailer that has a good return policy in case you have buyer's remorse.
Popular Apple accessories like its AirPods earbuds and AirPods Max headphones have given rise to their own cottage industry of accessories. An accessory for an accessory may seem a bit weird, but the market is flooded with these, a lot of which are made for the original AirPods Pro and newer AirPods Pro 2 , which now comes in a slightly upgraded USB-C version (We have a separate list of the best AirPods Max accessories .)
There are a lot of different types of accessories available for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2. The two most popular types of accessories are protective case covers (a case for the case) and foam ear tips that provide a more secure fit. I personally like the Otterbox Core case at the top of this list (it's my current favorite case). That said, there are plenty of other excellent cases to choose from on this list, which may serve you better, along with a few different types of foam ear tips, including ones from Comply.
Here's a look at CNET's current top picks for AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 accessories based on my hands-on experience. I'll update this as I test more of the best AirPods Pro cases and accessories.
Otterbox Core series cases for smartphones -- and now the AirPods Pro 2 -- are made of 50% recycled materials. But what I like about them is their texture. Not only is this AirPods case soft to the touch, but it also has a grippy feel, and it's protective too. You can find cheaper silicone cases (see below), but this is truly high-quality silicone that mixes in colorful flecks of recycled material. What's also nice is that, unlike some other silicone offerings, Core series cases don't attract and show dust.
Although this is a two-piece case (by that I mean there's a top and bottom but nothing joining them together), both pieces fit snugly. With some of these types of cases, the top tends to slip off (some come with an adhesive on the inside), but this top stays on better than most without the need to use the adhesive.
The one downside is that the case is currently available in only two color options: Mardi Gras (purple) and Carnival Night (black). I did like both colors (I was slightly more partial to the purple, as you can see by the photo), but a few more options would be good. For example, the Core Series for iPhone 14 also comes in blue and gray.
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.
For several years, Comply has been the gold standard for memory foam ear tips 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 although it's currently only available on the Comply website, not Amazon). That might be a good option for your new AirPods Pro ear tips if you have a couple of people in your family who own the AirPods Pro and have different size ears.
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.
I'm not sure how you can even pronounce the name of the company that produces this inexpensive AirPods Pro 2 case, but you can pick up some colors for just $6 right now with the instant coupon (though others list for closer to $12), 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.
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 come in only 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.
When I first took this Woolnut case out of its packaging, I wasn't sure if it was real leather because the inside of the case was rubberized. Upon closer inspection, it's indeed real leather and has a nice, almost pebbled look to it (the textured finish offers a bit of extra grip). Woolnut is based in Sweden and also makes an attractive leather-clad AirPods Max case, as well as leather-clad sleeves for laptops.
Available in four colors -- that's the cognac model in the photo -- the case's only downside is that it's somewhat expensive. It weighs slightly less than Nomad's Modern Leather case (see below). No lanyard is included.
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 although no lanyard.
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 ear tips. Their top model is the AirFoams Pro Active 2,0 ($26), which has 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 includes 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 of large tips instead -- that would be the better value -- but CharJen Pro doesn't offer that option.
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).
Silicone UV Resin Modifier 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.