Apple on Tuesday announced that its second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case is now available to order. Unfortunately, the company will not offer the USB-C case as a standalone purchase.
The lack of an upgrade option that allows users AirPods Pro owners to buy the USB-C case as a separate purchase will likely raise the ire of customers who already own second-generation AirPods Pro with a Lightning port, and have plans to upgrade to an iPhone 15, which now sports a USB-C port for the first time.
Apple is likely not offering the USB-C case as a separate purchase due to the fact that the updated second-generation AirPods Pro feature improved IP54-rated dust resistance, and will support up to 4 hours of lossless audio with ultra-low latency when connected to the Apple Vision Pro headset launching early next year. As laid out above by Mark Gurman, this is despite the fact that the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds you bought last week are technologically compatible.
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‐C) are now available to order, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 22.