Apple has begun selling the USB-C version of the AirPods Pro charging case through its online store in the United States and other countries.
Upgrading your Lightning-based case to the latest USB-C one will set you back $99. Mind you, that’s $99 for just the case (without AirPods).
If you’re interested, you can order yours today from the Apple online store, but the company won’t be able to deliver them to your doorstep before Christmas. The Verge says orders will be fulfilled between December 27 and January 2.
The standalone USB-C AirPods Pro case is $99
Delivery estimates are already showing an arrival date of after Christmas, so the case might not be a viable holiday stocking stuffer unless your local Apple store gets stock in the coming days.
Apple unveiled an updated version of the second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C version of the charging case in September 2023, with early adopters complaining  about Apple not offering the case alone as a standalone purchase.
It meant forcing existing AirPods owners to purchase a whole new pair of earbuds just to get USB-C charging. Thankfully, this option is now available to those who need it, even if it’s pricey. Aside from USB-C, the case has better dust, water and sweat resistance (IP54, just like the earbuds) than its Lightning-based counterpart.
USB-C is yet another option for charging AirPods cases. Like before, you can charge an AirPods case on any wireless MagSafe, Qi or Apple Watch charger. But now, you can also plug the new case into the USB-C port of an iPhone 15 for charging.