David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
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What is the best AirPods Pro accessory overall?
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.
Best AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 accessories for 2024
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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