tech / Jerad Hill

Best AirPods 5 Cases: 6 Cases Tested

By • Last updated October 9, 2026
Quick Summary

I tested 6 AirPods 5 cases, from a slim silicone case to an IP68 case you could throw against a wall. My pick is the ESR Orbit Hybrid. It's held up well on my other AirPods, and I like the simple, clean style with protection.

Best AirPods 5 Cases: 6 Cases Tested

Editor's Picks

ESR Orbit Hybrid AirPods 5 Case
Editor's Pick My Pick

ESR Orbit Hybrid AirPods 5 Case

★★★★☆ 4.3 / 5

This has been my case of choice on my AirPods Pro for a long time. It's in my pocket pretty much every single day and goes with me to the gym, and it still looks basically brand new. The magnets on the back let it magnetically attach to a wireless charger, and at my home gym I stick it to my squat rack so I'm not leaving it on the floor and forgetting about it. There are also some magnets around the outer side to keep the case closed. That makes it more challenging to open, protecting your AirPods from flying off and getting damaged. It has an opening at the bottom for USB-C charging.

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ESR Orbit Hybrid AirPods 5 Case
My Pick Editor's Pick

ESR Orbit Hybrid AirPods 5 Case

★ 4.3 / 5

This has been my case of choice on my AirPods Pro for a long time. It's in my pocket pretty much every single day and goes with me to the gym, and it still looks basically brand new. The magnets on the back let it magnetically attach to a wireless charger, and at my home gym I stick it to my squat rack so I'm not leaving it on the floor and forgetting about it. There are also some magnets around the outer side to keep the case closed. That makes it more challenging to open, protecting your AirPods from flying off and getting damaged. It has an opening at the bottom for USB-C charging.

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Tronwin Retro Gaming AirPods 5 Case
Cute Retro Style

Tronwin Retro Gaming AirPods 5 Case

★ 3.9 / 5

This one is just cute. That's the only word I could give it. It looks like a little Game Boy. It's simply a protective case, so there are no magnets on the back for MagSafe and no magnets to help keep the lid closed, but it gives you a lot of good protection and style, and it's definitely going to last quite a while. It opens up really easily, the status light shines through, and it has cutouts for the USB-C port, the microphones, and the speaker. The top attaches with adhesive. It also comes with a little carabiner attached to the side. I'm not really a carabiner fan on something like this, so I'd probably just take my knife and trim off that little nub so the case is nice and clean, but it's there if you want to attach it to something. This company has a variety of designs and styles, too.

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Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid AirPods 5 Case
Thought of Everything

Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid AirPods 5 Case

★ 4.4 / 5

This case has a locking mechanism, and having a case with extra protection and a lock is definitely nice. If I drop my AirPods, I don't have to worry about the case busting open and my AirPods going flying. What I love is the panel on the bottom that covers the USB-C port. I'm often wirelessly charging, and an exposed USB-C port going in and out of my pocket just collects lint and gets gummed up. It has magnets on the back, too. I don't necessarily think they're perfect for MagSafe alignment, but they're definitely going to help with attaching it to a MagSafe charger, and with sticking the case to something magnetic, like the squat rack at the gym. You also get a carabiner, a little cleaning tool, and a zip-up case for your case with room for accessories or even a USB cable. They really thought of everything.

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SUPCASE UB Pro AirPods 5 Case
IP68 Water Protection

SUPCASE UB Pro AirPods 5 Case

★ 4.2 / 5

This case adds a ton of protection. It does add a bit of bulk, but I could throw it against a wall and the AirPods are going to be just fine. It has a latch to open it, plus an additional latch to keep it from accidentally popping open. That's two layers of security keeping your AirPods from flying in different directions. It also adds an IP68 rating, and there's even a seal between the notification window and the case itself. Getting to your AirPods is a bit of a two-step process, and it's definitely overkill for most people. But it doesn't require a bunch of adhesive, so I can use it when I know I'll need the added protection and leave it behind when I don't.

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ESR Cyber Tough AirPods 5 Case
Really Nice Look

ESR Cyber Tough AirPods 5 Case

★ 4.4 / 5

This one just has a really nice look to it. I used this case on my AirPods Pro 2 for a year, and it held up really well after being in and out of my pocket hundreds and hundreds of times. The magnets on the back guide it onto a MagSafe charger, and they're super useful at the gym. Instead of setting your AirPods on the ground where they get lost, kicked, or dirty, you can stick the case to whatever steel you're near. That's a huge feature, I think, on AirPods cases for me. There are also extra magnets in the lid and the case that hold the lid closed with more tension, so your AirPods are less likely to go flying when you drop it. It comes with a carabiner attachment, too.

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Slim Silicone AirPods 5 Case
Slim Protection

Slim Silicone AirPods 5 Case

★ 3.7 / 5

This silicone case adds a thin layer of protection without adding a lot of bulk, and it protects your AirPods from the scratches you get from bouncing around in your pocket with your keys. It's easy to attach, but the only thing I fear with these types of cases is that pulling them in and out of your pocket can kind of get them caught, and you might end up having to realign your case from time to time. It comes in a variety of colors, and the top is attached, so even if it comes loose, it's not going to get lost. I really like the USB-C plug on the bottom that keeps the port from getting clogged up with pocket lint, and it comes with a nice little cleaning tool. The only thing I don't like about this case is that it holds the AirPods up off a wireless charger a little bit. It still charges wirelessly, just slower.

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Video

Rokform sponsored the video for this roundup, but none of the AirPods case brands sponsored it. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which cost you nothing but help support my work.

AirPods have always come in a case that goes in and out of your pocket, rubbing up against your keys and whatever else is in there, and they get scratched up. So I’ve always put a case on my AirPods and my AirPods Pro to keep them in good condition and protect them in case I drop them. For the AirPods 5, I tested 6 cases, from a slim silicone case to an IP68 case you could throw against a wall.

How I Use My AirPods Case

My AirPods case is in my pocket pretty much every single day, and it goes with me to the gym. At my home gym, I stick it to my squat rack with the magnets on the back, so I’m not leaving it on the floor and forgetting about it. That’s a huge feature, I think, on AirPods cases for me. I’m also often charging wirelessly, so I like magnets on the back for a MagSafe charger and a cover over the USB-C port, since an exposed port going in and out of my pocket just collects lint and gets gummed up.

How many times have you dropped your AirPods case and the AirPods come flying out of it because it’s so easy to open? Some of these cases use magnets to hold the lid closed, and a couple of them have a latch or a lock.

Do AirPods 4 Cases Fit the AirPods 5?

Yes. The AirPods 5 case is the same size as the AirPods 4, so all of the new cases for the AirPods 5, as well as existing AirPods 4 cases, are going to fit.

Which Case Did I Choose?

My pick is the ESR Orbit Hybrid. I really love this case. It’s been my case of choice on my AirPods Pro for a long time, it’s held up well on other AirPods I’ve had, and I like the simple, clean style with protection. I’ve tested a lot of cases over the years through owning different AirPods, and the ESR has always been one of my favorites.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AirPods 5 case?

For me it's the ESR Orbit Hybrid. It's been my case of choice on my AirPods Pro for a long time. It's in my pocket pretty much every day and goes with me to the gym, and it still looks basically brand new. It has magnets on the back for MagSafe wireless charging and magnets that hold the lid closed.

Do AirPods 4 cases fit the AirPods 5?

Yes. The AirPods 5 case is the same size as the AirPods 4, so existing AirPods 4 cases are going to fit, along with all of the new cases made for the AirPods 5.

Which AirPods 5 case protects against water?

The SUPCASE UB Pro adds an IP68 rating to your AirPods. If your AirPods are in this case and they accidentally go for a swim, it's the case that's going to protect you against that, especially if you have everything closed and tightly sealed. There's even a seal between the notification window and the case itself.

Which AirPods 5 cases work with MagSafe chargers?

The ESR Orbit Hybrid and ESR Cyber Tough both have magnets on the back for MagSafe charging. The Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid Case has magnets on the back too. I don't necessarily think they're perfect for MagSafe alignment, but they'll definitely help. The Tronwin Retro Gaming Case has no magnets, and the slim silicone case still charges wirelessly, just slower, because it holds the AirPods up off the charger a little bit.

Which AirPods 5 cases keep the lid from popping open?

The SUPCASE UB Pro has a latch plus an additional latch, so there are two layers of security. The Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid Case has a locking mechanism, so I don't have to worry about the case busting open if I drop it. Both ESR cases use magnets to hold the lid closed, which makes it more challenging for the lid to open.

Can you stick an AirPods case to gym equipment?

Yes, if the case has magnets on the back. At my home gym, I stick my AirPods case to my squat rack so I'm not leaving it on the floor and forgetting about it. The ESR Orbit Hybrid and ESR Cyber Tough both work for this, and the Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid Case has magnets on the back too.

Why get an AirPods case with a covered USB-C port?

I'm often charging my AirPods wirelessly, and an exposed USB-C port going in and out of my pocket just collects lint and gets gummed up. The Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid Case has a panel on the bottom that covers the port, the SUPCASE UB Pro has a panel that pops open, and the slim silicone case has a USB-C plug.

How do you install an AirPods 5 case that uses adhesive?

On the Tronwin Retro Gaming Case and the Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid Case, the top attaches with adhesive. You peel off the backing and press the top down onto the lid of your AirPods. With the Mag Lock 01, I recommend getting the front aligned first and then sliding the back portion down, so you can make sure the lid is aligned perfectly so the lock will work. The SUPCASE UB Pro doesn't require a bunch of adhesive, so you can pull your AirPods right out and pop them back in anytime.

Is there a slim AirPods 5 case that doesn't add bulk?

The slim silicone case adds a thin layer of protection without adding a lot of bulk, and it protects against the scratches you get from your pocket and keys. The only thing I don't like is that it holds the AirPods up off a wireless charger a little bit, so it still charges wirelessly, just slower. And with these types of cases, I fear that pulling them in and out of your pocket can kind of get them caught, and you might end up having to realign it from time to time.

Do any AirPods 5 cases come with a cleaning tool?

The Mag Lock 01 Drop Lid Case and the slim silicone case both come with a little cleaning tool. Our AirPods get a little gummed up over time, and there are times you need to clean down into the AirPods case, because something can get in there and affect the charging.
Curated by

Jerad Hill has been reviewing smartphones and wearable technology since the original iPhone launch in 2007, including first-hand experience with Google Glass at release. He runs Jerad Hill Tech, a YouTube channel with over 130,000 subscribers focused on intentional technology use and the Apple ecosystem. He tests all products in real-world daily use scenarios.

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