Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

New AirPods case looks just like a retro Apple Macintosh monitor

Elago AirPods
Elago.com/Elago

Apple enthusiasts can now rock out with a heaping helping of nostalgia based on one of the tech company’s most iconic products. Design company Elago has recently come out with a new AirPods case that mimics the shape of an old-school Apple Macintosh monitor.

According to 9to5Toys, the new AirPods case is known as AW3 and was designed to resemble “the beloved 1984 Macintosh.” The Macintosh-inspired design also notably sports the phrase “hello” on the front of the monitor’s screen, a reference to the computer’s classic greeting. The “hello” phrase included on this case even matches the original Macintosh font for it.

The case itself features wireless charging, a green notification light (to let you when it’s done charging your AirPods), an antislip coating within the cap, and, as Elago’s product listing notes, the case is also made of an “impact-resistant silicone material.” The AW3 AirPods case is compatible with first- and second-generation Apple AirPods. It also supports the use of a Lightning cable. And despite its bulky and boxy looking design, the case is still very portable, with a height of 57mm.

This isn’t Elago’s first foray into developing retro-style Apple product accessories. The design company has developed a wide variety of nostalgia-inspired accessories, including an Apple watch stand that resembles a Game Boy. And the AW3 case isn’t the only retro-Mac inspired creation from Elago. There’s even an Apple watch stand designed to look like a 1998 iMac that comes in the same shades of neon blue and pink as the late 1990s iMacs.

The AW3 AirPods case can be purchased either on Amazon or via the Elago website. It’s worth noting however, that the case is not currently in stock at Amazon, but it is expected to be restocked by October 29. The “fastest delivery date” is currently listed on the Amazon product page as Saturday, November 2. If you purchase it from Amazon, the price will be $13. The case is currently in stock on the Elago website, but it costs $14 there. Both vendors only appear to offer the case in one color: White. But both vendors also offer a one-year replacement warranty.

Editors' Recommendations

Anita George
Anita has been a technology reporter since 2013 and currently writes for the Computing section at Digital Trends. She began…
5 Apple gadgets you really should avoid this holiday season
Boxes for an Apple Watch, iPhones, and Airpods sit on a desk.

There’s no doubt that Apple makes some great products, and if you’re an Apple fan — or have one in your life — then you’re probably already scouting for AirPods, iPhones, and iPads to put under the tree this year.

While you certainly can’t go wrong with an iPhone 14 Pro, iPad Air (2022), or the latest AirPods Pro, not everything Apple has on the market right now is an obvious buying choice. There are a few that you should probably avoid, or at least think carefully about before you decide to slap down your credit card or click that buy button.
iPad (10th Gen, 2022)

Read more
Does the Apple iPad (2022) have a headphone jack?
Someone using an Apple Pencil with the 10th Gen iPad.

Apple has launched a new, re-designed iPad with the faster A14 Bionic chip and four vibrant color options to choose from. The new model also features upgraded cameras, a USB-C port for charging, and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner embedded in the power button.
It's the biggest overhaul we've ever seen for the baseline iPad, and it gets a lot right. But does the iPad (2022) have a headphone jack?
Does the iPad (2022) have a headphone jack?

Despite all the cool new features, the Apple iPad (2022) still doesn't feature a headphone jack. In fact, none of the recent Apple devices come with a headphone jack, so you're left to use wireless earbuds like the AirPods for enjoying your music. 
Is this surprising given Apple's other headphone jack-less gadgets? Not at all. But it is still disappointing for people who use and rely on wired audio gear.
Why recent Apple devices don't have a headphone jack
Apple got rid of the headphone jack shortly after it purchased Beats and launched its first wireless earbuds, the first-gen AirPods. While everyone predicted it was a strategy to boost earbud sales, Apple also cited space-saving reasons to dump the good old headphone slot.
"Maintaining an ancient, single-purpose, analog, big connector doesn't make sense because that space is at a premium," Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said during the iPhone 7 launch where Apple first removed the headphone jack from its devices. 
The best wireless earbuds for the iPad (2022)

Read more
Rare Apple AirPower prototype shown working in new video
iPhone X charging on the Apple AirPower prototype.

Remember when Apple's AirPower wireless charging mat was announced alongside the iPhone X in 2017, only for Apple to cancel its production two years later? YouTube channels Apple Demo and Unbox Therapy have brought that memory back with a video demonstrating a rare working prototype, per a report from MacRumors.

Unboxing Apple's Forbidden Product...

Read more