In a user-friendly move, Apple is selling USB-C MagSafe charging case for its second-generation AirPods Pro as a standalone purchase. In other words, you can buy only the case while the sound cans are the ones that you already have. The big change is the move from Lightning to USB-C, ensuring you don’t have to carry a mix of cables with you. It’s also a sign that Apple is slowly getting rid of the Lightning cable.

The original announcement for USB-C charging on AirPods Pro came on the day Apple announced the launch of iPhone 15 devices with USB-C port. At that point, it meant that to get a USB-C case, you’d need to buy a fresh set of AirPods Pro too. That’s no longer the case.

Note: The USB-C AirPods Pro that was announced in September has a couple of advantages. First, they’re dust-resistant besides being able to handle splashes of water. (The standalone case is rated IP54 like the earbuds.) Further, the USB-C AirPods Pro will be able to deliver lossless audio wirelessly when used with Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset upon its release next year. And remember, Apple says the new case is only compatible with the second-gen AirPods Pro.

The second-generation AirPods Pro is powered by the H2 headphone chip. It’s so powerful that all the computing takes place on the headphones. This is the chip that does the audio processing, noise cancelling and so on. The H2 chip can sample outside noise 48,000 times per second. What does it mean? You enter a zone where drilling is taking place. The earbuds can handle it real-time or before any sound reaches your ears. All the outside noises are being allowed to pass through but anything harsh or loud gets tackled to a point that it doesn’t hurt your ears.

Selling the case separately is something Apple hasn’t done before, making replacements an easy process. You can purchase the case for Rs 9,900 and delivery date on Apple Store online is showing as January.