The Best AirPods Cases We’ve Used In Our Day-to-Day Lives (2026)

The best AirPods cases are subjective, but luckily, you have thousands of options to match your style and mood. You can find a ton of novelty cases online, most of which are just fine. For this guide, we focused on cases with a WIRED angle. Rather than another case that looks like food or a licensed character, the recommendations below add some functionality or protection beyond the basics. For more recommendations, check out our guides to the Best AirPods, Best Wireless Headphones, and Best iPad Accessories. Featured in this article Best AirPods Case Overall Compatible with AirPods Pro (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation) and AirPods (3rd and 4th generation). The Dbrand Grip Case looks fantastic, and it doesn't add an irksome amount of bulk or weight to my headphones. The case is made of black rubber and can then be personalized with your choice of skins, plus an optional lanyard. There are more than 40 options, and you can swap them out whenever, though the sticker-like skins aren't reusable. Dbrand provides installation instructions, but I winged it and found it easy to get everything lined up. The skin options are slick, too. I'm partial to the UV-reactive Holo White, but there are some with an x-ray or pixelated aesthetic, circuit patterns, plain colors, and more. This case offers solid protection while still being eye-catching, which is why it's my favorite. Best Rugged Case Compatible with AirPods Pro (3rd generation) and AirPods (4th generation). UAG is in the business of making tough accessories, and this sturdy option adds a thick layer of rubber around the original AirPods case to protect it from drops. It has a nice grippy texture and snug fit, with squared edges that help me get a better grip when walking around. It also comes with a sweet-looking carabiner that is optional but I quite liked. The action is smooth, and it's not too big. Every feature works as intended, and there are 10 different color options to choose from. Best MagSafe Case Compatible with AirPods Pro (3rd generation) and AirPods (4th generation) Most cases in this guide have support for wireless charging, but if you're all in on MagSafe accessories, you'll love ESR’s Orbit case. It comes with magnets that attach securely to a MagSafe charger. The top and bottom pieces also snap shut with magnets, which helps keep the lid from accidentally sliding off (a common issue I've experienced with other AirPods cases). It's protective, with a shock-absorbing hard shell that helps protect against drops. This also means it's bulkier than other cases I've tested, but that's not a deal-breaker for me. As someone who constantly drops her AirPods case, I'll take all the extra protection I can get. —Brenda Stolyar Best Leather Case Compatible with AirPods Pro (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation) and AirPods (3rd and 4th generation) This leather case is made from Horween leather, which is minimally treated and develops a rich patina over time. It feels slippery, which I didn't love, but it's still protective without adding meaningful bulk to your headphones. It fits snugly and has cutouts for the light and speaker holes. There's a lanyard attachment point, but no lanyard is included. I haven't tried a better leather case. Best Flip-Open Case Compatible with AirPods Pro (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation) and AirPods (4th generation) This case actually improved my AirPods experience. Sliding the front switch pops the lid up, so I can easily place my headphones in with one hand. The colors also come in coordinating schemes with the iPhone 17 lineup. The case stays on when I accidentally drop it, and it has a spot for a wrist lanyard, too. I also like that I can still see the charging light through the case, and the bright colors help me spot my AirPods from a distance. A Case With a Clip Compatible with AirPods Pro (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation) and AirPods (3rd and 4th generation). Most AirPods cases come with a clip you can attach to your bag or keys, but this case from Bandolier elevates the look. I keep it clipped to the outside of my tote bag, but you can attach it to the inside if there's a pocket. Since it's a pouch, it doesn't attach to the top and bottom of the AirPods case like the other cases in this guide. But it's still protective, covering the entire case (except the charging port). It's made of genuine pebbled leather, giving it a bumpy texture that adds a nice high-end touch. It's also available in several colors, including black, pink, lavender, metallic blue, and more. —Brenda Stolyar Best AirPods Max Case Compatible with AirPods Max. Soft-touch silicone cases are great because they're usually thin, lightweight, and come in tons of colors. But they're also dust magnets. Casetify's Ripple Case is dust-proof thanks to an antistatic coating. This is important considering the AirPods Max don't have a dust-resistance rating. That way, you can worry a little less about dust seeping in. The Ripple case includes cutouts for the buttons, making them super easy to access. They also fit perfectly over the earcups. And, as the name suggests, they feature a ripple pattern that adds definition to the earcups. I like the color options, though I wish Casetify's logo wasn't stamped smack dab in the middle. —Brenda Stolyar Other AirPods Cases We Tested Burga AirPods Max Case ($25): This snap-on case for AirPods Max keeps your ports accessible and is pretty easy to snap on and remove. It's available in dozens of prints, and you can coordinate it with various iPhone accessories like cases and ring holders, too. Compatible with AirPods Max. Alpaka x Twelve South Micro Tote ($30): What is it about cute tiny tote bags that drives people cuckoo bananas? Because I really want this limited-edition collaboration between two makers of high-quality accessories, Alpaka and Twelve South. Originally intended for Twelve South's PowerClip portable battery, it's also the perfect size for an AirPods case. Made from Alpaka's durable X-Pac material, it includes a D-ring to hook onto the outside of your bag, belt loop, or keychain. You can also use it for coins and other small items. Although I haven't tested this long enough for a full recommendation, I have had positive experiences using Alpaka and Twelve South products long-term. —Les Shu Compatible with AirPods Pro (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation). Bellroy Pod Jacket ($39): Sadly, it's time to replace my trusty Incase Woolenex AirPods Case because it's reached the end of its useful life; I am upgrading to the AirPods Pro 3; and Incase no longer makes this product. Bellroy has stepped in to become my accessories maker of choice, and I love the luxe leather feel of the Pod Jacket, and it's a great alternative to our leather pick above. It includes a corded lanyard, which I don't use since I prefer to keep it in my pocket, and the lanyard just gets in the way. I like that I can still charge it wirelessly. If leather is not your thing, the Pod Jacket is available in other materials. —Les Shu Compatible with AirPods Pro (2nd and 3rd generation). AirPods Cases We Don't Recommend Spigen Classic LS Case: This case makes your AirPods Pro look like the classic Macintosh mouse, but the aesthetics don't outweigh its mediocre functionality. The lid constantly pops off, and while I appreciate that Spigen includes extra adhesive, I don't want to have to deal with it. It was also annoying to open and too bulky to fit conveniently in my purse or pocket. How Can I Tell Which AirPods I Have? How do you know which case to buy? Apple has several generations of its AirPods, whether you have the standard AirPods or the AirPods Pro, so be sure the case you select works with your model. (Some cases are interchangeable, particularly the first- and second-generation AirPods and the first- and second-generation AirPods Pro.) To find what you have, go to Settings > Bluetooth on the Apple device you paired them with. Tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods' name to see the model number. If your AirPods aren't connected to an Apple device, you can find the model number on the device itself. It's on the underside of each earbud—you may need to use your smartphone's zoom feature to read it. Once you have the model number, you can cross-reference it with this tool to identify the generation. You can also just check the receipt in your order history if you purchased them online. You probably know if you bought a different case for your AirPods, but it's worth checking the case's model number, too, as Apple has released stand-alone models with wireless charging and MagSafe support. You can find those details here. How We Test AirPods Cases I make sure these cases provide adequate protection in day-to-day life. I keep my AirPods in most of the time and always tote them around, so these cases get a lot of field testing. I also make sure they allow the full use of AirPods' features, like hearing the Find My tone or allowing wireless charging. I tested most of these cases with my AirPods Pro 3, but am hoping to check out more options for the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Max soon. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.