How to upgrade AirPods for better fit, sound, and performance

Apple’s AirPods (first or second-generation) tend to be the best wireless earbuds for most people. They’re reasonably priced, sound great, last long, and easily pair and connect with Apple devices.

But like all earbuds and headphones, it’s impossible to satisfy literally everyone. As great as AirPods are, they don’t fit in everyone’s ears, and they also don’t offer as much sound isolation as other wireless earbuds.

All hope isn’t lost if you still want to AirPods, though. There are a number of “hacks” and accessories that you can use to customize AirPods so they fit better, sound better, or have more functionality.

Here are our six favorite AirPods upgrades.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods 2 review: Still the best wireless earbuds you can buy

1. Add ear tips

The easiest way to upgrade AirPods to fit and stay in your ears is to add ear tips. These can come in a few different variations, and most only cost a few dollars.

These silicone ear tip covers from AhaStyle wrap over the top of AirPods and essentially turn them into in-ear wireless earbuds and channel sound deeper into your ear canals. This deeper fit is also supposed to improve bass.

There are also ear tips with “fins” (also called “wings”) that hook into the insides of your ears to keep them in place. We recommend these for activities like running or working out where there’s a higher chance AirPods might slip out with more sweeping movements.

And if you really want to ensure AirPods don’t fall out, these ear hooks wrap up and over your ears to secure them in place. You’re basically turning AirPods into Beats PowerBeats.

Adding ear tips to your AirPods improves fit, but there is one downside: charging. You’ll need to remove the tips every single time you want to re-insert the AirPods into its charging case, which could be a hassle.

2. Improve bass with foam covers

AirPods sound good — as good as Apple’s wired EarPods — but not blow-your-mind amazing. They could use more bass and sound less distorted at higher volumes.

Adding an in-ear tip can improve the bass just a smidge by shooting the sound deeper into your ears, but as we said earlier, removing them to charge is a pain in the ass.

There’s a hack (see video above) that involves melting foam earbud covers to add more grip to AirPods, allowing them to fit inside of the charging case, and also reportedly improving sound quality (specifically bass).

You do need to get your hands a little dirty and you risk damaging your AirPods, but people claim it really works.

3. Add wireless charging

It’s extremely convenient to wirelessly charge AirPods. But Apple’s official wireless charging case is kinda pricey at $79 and the complete set of AirPods 2 with an included wireless charging case will set you back $199.

But you really don’t need to pay that much to wirelessly charge your AirPods. HyperJuice’s Wireless Charger Case costs a a fourth of the cost of Apple’s official wireless charging case. The only catch is the case slips over your existing AirPods case and bulks it up just a tad.

4. Add a neck strap

I’ve personally never had any issues with AirPods staying in my ears during runs. But then again, I’m not a hardcore runner, either. My brief darts around my neighborhood might not be aggressive enough for them to slip out.

Adding a neck strap is an easy way to prevent your AirPods from flying out of your ears on a run and also lets you dangle them around your neck during breaks.

The above one from Spigen is pretty basic, but if you want something less likely to get tangled up, this one has a magnetic clasp to fasten the two AirPods together either in your pocket or around your neck.

5. Use them with in-flight entertainment system

You know what sucks about going wireless? Flying. There’s just no way to connect AirPods to a plane’s in-flight entertainment system because they all still require headphone jacks.

Your only alternative is to carry a second pair of wired headphones for use during a flight. That’s really annoying.

Luckily, TwelveSouth’s AirFly exists. The dongle plugs into the in-flight entertainment system’s headphone jack and transmits audio to your AirPods. It’s that simple. (Bonus: AirFly also lets you use AirPods with a Nintendo Switch, which doesn’t support Bluetooth).

6. Dust-proof the insides of the case

What’s worse than earwax getting lodged in your AirPods? All the dirt that gets trapped inside of the case that’s near impossible to clean.

Not to worry. Elago’s dust guards stick to the insides of the case and keep dirt out. Plus, they also give your AirPods case a little bit of flair.