AirPods 5: Should You Pay $20 More for the Wireless Charging Case?

In Apple's latest event, the AirPods 5 With Wireless Charging Case was introduced at a price of $150. The case is compatible with inductive charging via "MagSafe, Qi, or Apple Watch pucks". However, Apple's tech specs page for AirPods 5 does not list MagSafe compatibility. The official statement is: "Works with USB-C connector, Apple Watch charger, or Qi-certified chargers".

The reason behind this omission is that true MagSafe compatibility involves magnetic attachment, which the AirPods 5 case lacks. Apple's AirPods Pro cases, on the other hand, do have magnets, enabling them to snap onto a MagSafe charger. For instance, the AirPods Pro 3 case can be attached to a nearly vertical MagSafe charger like the Nomad Stand One without any issues.

However, the AirPods 5 case cannot be charged on such a stand because it does not have magnets. It can, though, be charged on a horizontal MagSafe puck because MagSafe pucks are themselves Qi-compatible. Apple's insistence on the "mag" in MagSafe is understandable, but the lack of explicit mention of MagSafe compatibility might lead to the mistaken belief that AirPods 5 With Wireless Charging Case does not support MagSafe at all.