Andrew O'Hara
If you want to not only protect your AirPods but to also transform them into a quirky 1984 Macintosh, then the Elago AW3 is your new best friend.
Just launched, the AW3 is the latest in the accessory-makers lineup of retro Apple designs. The company made headlines a couple of years ago for its line of Mac-inspired Apple Watch chargers that turned the watches display into the screen on a vintage Mac.
Now it's graduated from Apple Watches and moved on to AirPods.
Cases for AirPods are a bit of a thing at the moment, with new ones seemingly launching each week, but all of the cases we've run across are generally different variations of the same design. Kudos to Elago for doing something a bit different.
Made from very soft silicone, the AW3 case slides onto your AirPods — first or second-generation — with ease. It is comprised of two separate components, consisting of a top section as a lid for the AirPods charging case and one for the body. The silicone adds a bit of grip, as well as some drop protection.
The front and back of the case are very thin, allowing the pairing button the back to be pressed without removing it, and for the status light on the front to shine through.
Those worried about having to take the extra case off to recharge using wireless charging can rest easy, because it still supports wireless charging while still applied. The silicone actually aids in wireless charging by preventing the AirPods case from sliding around on the charging pad.
There is something charming about the retro beige design with the iconic script "hello" emblazoned on the front. It is taking one of Apple's newest and most iconic product designs — the AirPods — and meshing it with the equally iconic 1984 iMac.
All that, coupled with the relatively low price tag, we are sure many people will take to the unique Elago AW3 case.
Pros
- Quirky design
- Protective silicone
- Status light and button still function
Cons
- Top can easily come off
- Must like the retro design
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy
You can pick up the Elago AW3 silicone AirPods case on Amazon for $13.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Andrew Orr
8 Comments
Dumb
It's actually a case for the case.
And I agree it's rather dumb. The AirPods case is designed to be unobtrusive and easily slip into any pocket. Putting something around it to make it bigger, squarer, and rubbery instead of slick is bizarre. Now maybe if you keep your case on your desk or something instead of pocketing it, all these problems go away. Shrug.
To be fair: Apple’s case can get scratched easily and this will prevent that. Also the rubbery nature is more grippy. I’m not a retro fan these aren’t for me, but I can certainly see where some would find this both fun and actually useful.
A case for a case? Not very practical