Skip to main content

This touchscreen AirPods case is the worst thing I’ve seen all week

If you know me even the slightest bit, you’ll know that I’m a big Apple fan. I have an iPad, Apple Watch, and multiple Macs. And even though I’ve been diving into the world of Android phones, my primary device is still an iPhone 14 Pro. I also always have my AirPods Pro 2 with me, whether that’s at home or when I’m out at Disney parks — they’re always on me in some way or another.

But as much as I like Apple, there are certainly some things that will make me scratch my head and go “Huh?” The latest one is what appears to be a new patent held by Apple that could lead to an AirPods case with an integrated interactive touchscreen.

The patent does what now?

A concept of an AirPods Pro case with a touchscreen made by MacRumors.
MacRumors

According to a report from MacRumors, Apple originally filed this patent in September 2021, and this patent application was only published last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Titled “Devices, Methods, and Graphical User Interface Interactions with a Headphones Case,” it features designs for an AirPods case that would have a built-in touchscreen display on the front. This would allow users to be able to do things like control audio sources and interact with apps that are currently using the connected device.

In the patent application, it says, “Audio output device cases are commonly passive devices used to charge audio output devices.” But it goes on to basically say that the utility of a headphone case can be enhanced, and user control of wireless headphones can be improved by having a headphone case with an interactive user interface.

The designs from the patent include several ways of controlling audio from the case itself. The main way would be through a capacitive touchscreen, complete with a user interface that has tactile feedback, so you can control and interact with the audio without the need to look at the case itself.

Another method includes using specific gestures, including taps and swipes, to navigate through the onscreen content and even activate Siri. Another scenario involves squeezing the case to change the listening mode, which probably means Noise Cancellation and Transparency.

Apple also goes on in the patent to essentially say that the case could use additional processors and even memory modules to do tasks you normally would with your smartphone or computer.

Okay, that’s nice and all, but … why?

Apple AirPods Pro 2 inside their charging case, near iPhone 14.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I’m not sure how everyone else uses their AirPods, but when I put the earbuds into my ears, I stash the case back in my pocket, in my bag, or just put it aside. I just don’t really keep it out because it’s not needed until I’m done with my AirPods and need to charge them.

The problem with a charging case with a touchscreen to control and interact with my audio is, well, my iPhone can already do that. I also tend to be actively using my iPhone 14 Pro or iPad or Mac if I use my AirPods Pro 2, so I can already control my audio from those devices — why would I even want to pull out the charging case to do any of that?

According to the filed patent, the case display would also be able to show other information, including the audio source. For example, a call or message or email, or even a movie. But why would I watch a movie on a tiny screen that’s even smaller than my iPhone?

Apple AirPods Pro 2 close-up.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If anything, the real innovation would be the squeezing method. I can see this being interesting and actually useful, as you can just give the case a squeeze in your pocket to activate Transparency or Noise Cancellation while you’re walking and have your phone away. I mean, yes, you could do that directly on the AirPods Pro already, but sometimes the stem sensors can be finicky — giving the entire case a squeeze may work better.

But still, a built-in touchscreen for controlling audio on the AirPods case? I’m just not entirely sold on the idea, and I can only imagine a price increase for such a feature.

Of course, just because Apple has a patent for this doesn’t mean that it will become an actual thing. And in this case, I hope it stays that way. But it appears that JBL has already put a touchscreen on the charging case for its Tour Pro 2 earbuds, so I suppose the idea isn’t as crazy as it seems. Still, I’m skeptical.

Editors' Recommendations

Christine Romero-Chan
Christine Romero-Chan has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade. She graduated from California…
A Canadian grocery store is selling second-gen AirPods for just $89
Apple AirPods second generation with charging case on a wooden desk.

Canada, the home of hockey, doughnuts, and free health care, is now one of the best places to buy the second-gen Apple AirPods. In an unusual move, No Frills -- a grocery chain owned by Canadian food retail giant George Weston Limited -- is selling the super-popular wireless earbuds for as low as $119 Canadian, which approximately converts to $89 U.S., according to Canadian tech site Mobile Syrup, making this by far the best price you'll find right now.

It's not unusual to see smaller brands like Skullcandy or Panasonic selling budget-friendly earbuds at the ends of grocery store aisles, but it's less common to see Apple do it, and even rarer to see the company's products so deeply discounted. The regular (and current) price on Apple.com, as well as Amazon and Best Buy, is $119 U.S. for the second-gen AirPods with a Lightning-only charging case.

Read more
Can you use AirPods Pro without eartips? The answer may surprise you
Apple AirPods Pro 2 seen with ear tip removed.

Apple sells three versions of its super-popular wireless earbuds: The original AirPods, now in their second generation (thus AirPods 2), the third-gen version of the AirPods (which we’ve opted to call the AirPods 3), and the second-gen AirPods Pro (or AirPods Pro 2 for greater clarity). While there are a lot of differences between these models, people invariably notice the physical differences most of all, specifically the presence of silicone eartips on the AirPods Pro 2, and their absence on the AirPods 2 and 3. And that eventually leads to the question, can you use the AirPods Pro without those eartips, and if you did, what would happen?

Before I answer that, let’s quickly review why the AirPods Pro have eartips in the first place. The main purpose of eartips on any set of wireless earbuds is to create a seal around the entrance to your ear canal. This has several benefits:

Read more
I wanted to love the M2 iPad Pro, but it let me down in all the worst ways
M2 iPad Pro with Apple Pencil.

Apple’s latest-and-greatest tablets are here. Apple announced its next-gen iPad Pro lineup today without an in-person or prerecorded event. Instead, all we got was a simple press release. The biggest sell here is the M2 chip, which offers a modest 10% bump in processing prowess and a 35% jump in graphics grunt. Then there’s the new Apple Pencil hover feature that shows contextual UI action before the stylus even touches the screen.
That’s about the end of meaningful upgrades this year for the Pro tablet. The company is still charging a handsome $799 for the 11-inch model, which doesn’t get the mini-LED upgrade, for yet another year. We’re talking about the Wi-Fi model here, mind you. The 5G-ready trim will cost you a minimum of $999. Not exactly an affordable investment for a tablet, irrespective of how hard you push it. And if you step up to the 12.9-inch version, things only get more out of hand.

An expensive ride with little new inside

Read more