Apple Releases Third-Generation AirPods With Non-MagSafe Charging Case - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Releases Third-Generation AirPods With Non-MagSafe Charging Case

by

In addition to unveiling the second-generation AirPods Pro today, Apple made the third-generation AirPods available with a Lightning charging case that lacks MagSafe wireless charging. This version of the case can be charged with a Lightning cable only.

AirPods 3 Charging Case
Pricing for the third-generation AirPods with a Lightning case is set at $169 in the United States, compared to $179 for the third-generation AirPods with a MagSafe case, so it seems like there is very limited value in choosing this new option.

Apple did not announce any other updates to the third-generation AirPods today, and the second-generation AirPods remain available for $129.

The new AirPods Pro feature an H2 chip for improved audio quality and up to 2x the amount of active noise cancellation, improvements to Transparency mode, a revamped charging case with Find My support and a built-in lanyard loop, Bluetooth 5.3, and more.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Tag: September 2022 Apple Event
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
Read Full Article • 80 comments
imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
Read Full Article
ios 26 4 yellow

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for iOS 26.4

Wednesday March 18, 2026 11:56 am PDT by
Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which means we're going to see a public launch as soon as next week. The RC versions of the software include Apple's official release notes, giving us final details on what's included in the update. Apple Music - Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your...
Read Full Article • 105 comments

Top Rated Comments

HeavenDynamic Avatar
HeavenDynamic
46 months ago
OK, but why?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
brofkand
46 months ago

The decision is simple: they wanted to save money and probably physical space by not offering both wireless and wired charging in the same device. It's a user option.

The AP3 wireless case can't charge with a cable (like the Apple Watch).

I will likely buy the one that charges from a cable. Wireless would be yet *another* charger to take on the road. I'd buy the non-wireless-charging version even if they were the same price; the $10 discount is a nice bonus but the decision has nothing to do with price and everything to do with convenience.

ALSO, I suspect (but don't know) that if the EU ever decides to require standardization on USB-C chargers, Apple will just stop selling the Lightning-wired version in the EU.
You've never seen AirPods cases have you? They all have a Lightning port on them.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
burnout8488
46 months ago

The AP3 wireless case can't charge with a cable (like the Apple Watch).

Yes it can - per the specs on Apple.com : The Lightning Charging Case works with the Lightning connector. The MagSafe Charging Case works wirelessly with MagSafe charger and Qi-certified chargers or with the Lightning connector.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
mcru21
46 months ago
this is hilariously stupid
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
_Spinn_
46 months ago

OK, but why?
Yeah no kidding.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Saladin12 Avatar
Saladin12
46 months ago

Disagree. Read the footnotes:



This makes it pretty clear that only the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) have a Magsafe case that *also* has a Lightning connector. Otherwise, the footnote would read "AirProds Pro (2nd generation) AND AirPods (3rd Generation) charging case also works with..."

Otherwise, why call out Lightning specifically for APP2?
From this page: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MPNY3AM/A/airpods-3rd-generation-with-lightning-charging-case - in Product Information, and then Highlights

"MagSafe Charging Case can be charged either wirelessly using a MagSafe charger or Qi-certified charger or with the Lightning connector"
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments
Related Apple News: Ipad 12 | Iphone | Iphone 18 | Apple Watch Series 10 Rumors | Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Power Station