Apple AirPods (2nd generation) with Wireless Charging Case review

AirPods 2 with the Wireless Charging Case combine Apple’s second-generation open-fit earbuds with a case that adds Qi charging. The earpieces are the same A2032/A2031 generation used in the standard-case package; the case is the meaningful difference. This is a source-based assessment of the separately identified package, not a wear test or claim about a particular used unit’s battery health.

The earbuds remain open-fit and non-ANC

There is no silicone tip forming a canal seal. That can be a sensible starting point if you want a less occluding shape, but it cannot predict how securely the hard-shell earbuds will sit in your ears. An open fit also allows more surrounding sound through than a sealed design. Apple does not document Active Noise Cancellation for this generation, so the wireless case does not turn the earbuds into a noise-cancelling model. Choose them only if an open, non-ANC listening arrangement is consistent with your environment and expectations.

Apple’s AirPods 2 technical sheet lists the H1 chip, Bluetooth 5.0, double-tap controls and hands-free Siri. The 2019 announcement explains that buyers could choose either a standard case or a Wireless Charging Case, and that the wireless case was also available separately. Because the charging arrangement differs in a real way, this review keeps the wireless-case bundle separate rather than collapsing it into the standard AirPods 2 entry.

A1938 adds Qi, not a different earbud generation

The Wireless Charging Case is model A1938. Apple’s identification page says this case works with AirPods 1 and AirPods 2, is Qi-compatible, and still has a Lightning port for plug-in charging. The standalone case specifications also identify Qi support and Lightning charging. Apple’s newsroom describes a front status light and says the case holds additional charges for more than 24 hours of total listening time. This is not a MagSafe-aligned or Apple Watch-charging claim; do not infer either from “wireless.”

The distinction is useful if you already own a Qi-certified charging mat and want to put the closed case down rather than plug it in. The A1938 case can also be charged through Lightning, but it does not satisfy a USB-C-only preference. Check the exact case model number rather than relying on a seller’s generic AirPods title: Apple says A1938 works with AirPods 1 and 2, but A1602 is the standard Lightning Charging Case and does not offer wireless charging.

Same earbud battery claim, with legacy caveats

Apple publishes up to five hours of listening on one charge and more than 24 hours total with the case for AirPods 2. A 15-minute charge in the case is listed as yielding up to three hours of listening. The 2019 test note specifies preproduction equipment and software at 50-percent volume with an iPhone XS Max, and Apple cautions that settings, environment and use affect results. The figures are not a forecast for an older battery, nor do they isolate how much recharge you will get from any particular case charge.

Apple’s generic AirPods 2 technical table reports one case weight for its case variants while its separate Wireless Charging Case technical page gives a different standalone-case value. Because the checked official pages disagree, this assessment does not publish a case weight for A1938. That uncertainty does not affect the charging method or model identity, which are explicitly documented.

Host, codec and moisture limits

Apple supports AirPods as Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices, while warning that available features may be limited. The official documents reviewed here do not name an audio codec or document generic two-source multipoint for this generation. Account-based switching between compatible Apple devices should not be presented as proof of simultaneous connections to two arbitrary Bluetooth hosts. If your phone, laptop or codec is essential, verify its actual compatibility before choosing this earlier product.

Apple’s current water-resistance page does not give AirPods 2 or the A1938 case a water rating. Do not translate that omission into a waterproof claim or use the product around water on the strength of an assumption. Keep the case and earbuds dry, especially before connecting a charging cable or placing the case on a Qi pad. A charging mat does not make the case more moisture tolerant.

Who benefits from the case option?

Compared with standard AirPods 2, this edition is the more relevant package for someone who specifically wants Qi charging but still prefers the same open-fit AirPods 2 wearing style and non-ANC feature set. It does not offer later AirPods 3 features such as stem force sensors, Spatial Audio with head tracking, Adaptive EQ, IPX4 coverage or a six-hour single-charge maximum. Nor does the case choice improve the earbuds’ seal, isolation, microphone performance or age-related battery condition.

• Look for earbuds A2032/A2031 with the A1938 Wireless Charging Case; A1602 is a different standard-case configuration.
• Confirm a Qi-certified pad is part of your setup if wireless charging is the reason for choosing this edition; Lightning remains the wired alternative.
• Verify seller condition, return rights, cable inclusion and battery condition for any earlier-generation offer.
• Do not assume MagSafe alignment, Apple Watch charging, water resistance, an audio codec or generic multipoint.
• Test the open fit and host-specific functions within a return window; no personal test is represented in this assessment.

Bottom line: the A1938 bundle adds genuine Qi convenience to AirPods 2, but its earbuds share the same open fit, non-ANC operation and five-hour published maximum as the standard case edition. It is a case-package choice, not a different listening platform.