AirPods are one of my favorite Apple products to come along in quite some time, and I use them every single day. I especially enjoy using them while traveling, because they’re completely devoid of wires, have all-day battery life, seamless device pairing, and are easy to stow away.

I was skeptical during their initial unveiling, but after using AirPods for the last year and half, they’ve become one of my favorite tech products of all time. Next to my iPhone, AirPods are easily my favorite tech-related travel companion.

Outside of the long-awaited AirPower mat wireless charger from Apple, I didn’t think there was any accessory that could improve or enhance AirPods in any way. But Twelve South, always the innovator with new Apple-related accessories, is making a case for its new AirSnap accessory. Watch our brief hands-on video walkthrough for the details.

Specifications

• Full-grain leather case designed specifically to protect AirPods
• Built-in clip to keep AirPods attached to a bag or backpack
• Secure snap closure keeps AirPods secure while traveling
• Bottom cut-out for convenient access to Lightning port for charging
• Available in brown, black, and teal
• Dimensions: 2.9-inches x 2.1-inches x .98-inches
• Weight: .8 ounces

Twelve South makes a number of products that I’ve enjoyed using over the years, such as the HiRise Pro for the iMac Pro, and the BookBook for iPhone. But creating a case to house the AirPods? That initially seemed a bit odd to me. One of the best things about the AirPods is that its Charging Case is pocketable, and easy to stow away. Is it really necessary to have a leather case for the AirPods? Would such a product provide any real benefits?

But then I remember how many times I’ve dropped my AirPods Charging Case [hint: it’s a lot] and it kind of makes sense. I’ve got numerous scratches and depressions on the Charging Case from drops, something that an accessory like the AirSnap would have protected against. To be honest, considering the types of surfaces that I’ve dropped my AirPods on — things like hardwood floors, tile, and concrete — I’m surprised they still function at all. I guess it’s a testament to the design quality of the Charging Case.

Video walkthrough

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One of the primary benefits of AirSnap is that it provides a protective barrier for your AirPods in the event of a drop. Another benefit is that it features a small carabiner-like clip for quickly attaching the case to a bag, backpack, or belt loop.

I could see such a clip being handy while traveling, but I’m not sure how I’d feel leaving my AirPods within the grasp of opportunistic hands while moving throughout a crowded airport. The secure snap, the portion of the case to which AirSnap owes its name, provides a measure of protection, securely snapping the case closed. If attached to the side of a bag within peripheral view, I might be fine with it, but I’d hesitate attaching it to the back of my camera backpack.

The downside of AirSnap is that it adds a little bit of extra bulk to your AirPods Charging Case, making it slightly less pocketable. That won’t matter much if you plan on attaching AirSnap to a bag, but it could make a slight difference if you’d lean towards stowing your AirPods away in your jeans pocket. To be clear, it’s still a really compact package, even while inside the AirSnap case.

Twelve South has always done a rather good job with its leather products, and AirSnap is no exception. The full-grain leather will no doubt develop a nice patina as it gracefully ages, and features stitching around the edges to keep the case bonded together.

Twelve South made sure to incorporate a cut-out in the bottom of the AirSnap to accommodate a Lightning cable for charging the AirPods Charging Case. This makes it so that you don’t have to remove your device from the AirSnap in order to charge the case.

As far as the upcoming AirPods wireless charging case is concerned, if the iPhone’s ability to wirelessly charge through a case is any indication, then it seems likely that the AirSnap case will allow for wireless charging as well. Of course, we’d have to test that to be sure, so take this assumption with a grain of salt.

Conclusion

AirSnap is a good product to help protect your AirPods from drops and dings, and you may also find it to be convenient for travel, but it comes at the expense of adding a little bit of extra bulk to the otherwise sleek AirPods. As usual, the quality of Twelve South’s leather is good, with a design that’s simple and effective. They are available on sale now for $30, and can be found directly from TwelveSouth and on Amazon.

What are your thoughts on AirSnap? Leave your comments down below.

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