Apple has begun selling the USB-C charging case for its second-generation AirPods Pro as a standalone purchase. But it doesn’t come cheap. The MagSafe-compatible case, available immediately, is priced at $99. Still, if you’re dead set on switching all of your gadgets to USB-C and already own a pair of second-gen AirPods Pro with a Lightning case, this upgrade is cheaper than buying a whole new set.
Delivery estimates are already showing an arrival date of after Christmas, so the case might not be a viable holiday stocking stuffer unless your local Apple store gets stock in the coming days.
The USB-C AirPods Pro, which released earlier this year, still have some advantages over the original Lightning model. Namely, they’re dust-resistant, in addition to being able to handle splashes of water. (The standalone case is rated IP54 just like the earbuds.) The USB-C AirPods Pro will also be able to deliver lossless audio wirelessly when used with Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset upon its release next year.
But as long as you’ve got the second-gen buds with either port, you can take advantage of Apple’s latest AirPods Pro software features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Detection.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24805890/STK160_X_Twitter_008.jpg?w=100&resize=100,100&ssl=1 "Elon Musk says Twitter will soon only offer dark mode because it’s “better in every way”")