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

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.

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

OK, but why?

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?