For anyone hoping to charge Apple’s AirPods or AirPods Pro without the case, the options are nonexistent. AirPods are a great option for anyone looking for a true wireless listening experience, but charging the earbuds when the battery is low is not always so liberating, due to their reliance on a carry case that doubles as a charger.

Since the release of the first-generation, AirPods have remained a popular option for earbuds buyers. In fact, Apple has, on more than one occasion, expanded the lineup with newer models, including the AirPods Pro and the even newer AirPods Max over-ear headphones. However, while the Max headphones are capable of being charged directly, all versions of the earbuds still require the use of the case to top up the battery.

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Depending on how much a consumer is willing to spend when buying AirPods, there is the choice between picking up either a standard or wireless charging case. Although the latter offers a more convenient way to charge the earbuds, the case is still needed for charging. The only actual difference between the two cases is that Apple’s Wireless Charging Case can be charged wirelessly by using a Qi-certified charging mat. In contrast, charging the standard case requires the use of a Lightning cable before it can pass on the charge to the AirPods. While this might change in the future with a newer model, no current AirPods earbuds model can be charged without the case.

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Some consumers may simply want to find a way to charge the earbuds without the inconvenience of having to carry the case as well, or ensured it is charged. However, there are going to be instances where AirPods users are more immediately impacted by the inability to charge without a case, such as when a case is lost, stolen or broken. Unfortunately, as there is no real option to charge the earbuds without a case, there’s also no real option in these instances other than buying a replacement case.

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Technically, some third-party products have been released in the past that claim to offer the option to charge AirPods without the case. However, these are still additional purchases and largely work exactly the same as a case, requiring the AirPods to be charged in a stationary position and typically requiring some form of power themselves. At present, a case, either sold by Apple or a third-party, remains the best and only real option for charging a pair of AirPods.

Source: Apple

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John Finn
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John Finn is a technology editor and writer for Screen Rant. John has been covering technology since 2014 and focuses on where tech meets the movie and TV industry. A Psychology graduate from England who now lives in the US, John previously worked in the aviation industry as an airline reviewer. You can find John on Twitter (@J_Finns) or contact directly at john [at] screenrant [dot] com.

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