Which AirPods Have The Light On The Outside Of The Case

31 Jan 2022

Do you want to know which AirPods have the light on the outside of the case?

AirPod cases can seem like a mystery at times. They have an LED light that changes color for several reasons. And the location of that light depends on which AirPods you have.

Certain AirPod cases indeed have the light inside the case while others have it outside.

In this article, we discuss which AirPod cases have the light on the outside. We also take a look at the different LED colors and what they mean.

Which AirPods Case Has The LED Light On The Outside?

how to know which airpods have the light on the outside of the case

The wireless charging AirPods case has the light on the outside. Some might say that Generation 1 and 2 AirPods have the light on the inside of the case. This is true.

Gen 1 and 2 originally have wired charging cases. Wired charging cases have the light inside the case, near the AirPods’ compartment.

But, it's possible to upgrade to a wireless charging case for your Gen 1 or Gen 2 AirPods.

It’s important to note that if you do upgrade, there might be compatibility issues. Wondering why your AirPod case is flashing orange? This might be why.

How To Identify Your AirPods

The easiest way to identify your AirPods is by using your phone. Go to Bluetooth in your Settings. Click on the information icon beside your AirPods’ name.

This will tell you the:

Model name
Model number
Serial number
The version

If you’re using the AirPods while doing this, you might need to scroll down to see it. You can now go to the Apple website and use the model number to identify your AirPods.

You can also find the model number on the AirPods themselves. The text is tiny and light gray, which makes it easy to miss.

If you have the earpiece AirPods, it will be near the top of the earbud. If you have the over-ear AirPods, check close to where the headband and over-ear piece connects. It will be on the upper inside of the over-ear piece.

What Do the Different Colors of the Status Light Mean?

The status light has more than one color. Let’s take a look at what the colors mean:

White (flashing): the AirPods are in pairing mode. They are ready to connect to your device(s). Or they’ll connect automatically if already paired.

Amber (AirPods in case): AirPods have a low charge and/or the case has started charging them.

Amber (with case empty): The case has a low charge and needs to be connected to a power source. It won’t have enough juice to recharge the AirPods.

Amber (with power source): The case and AirPods are charging. Does the AirPod case light stay on when charging? Only for about 8 seconds and then it switches off.

Amber (flashing): there is a pairing or connection error with your device(s). You will need to reset the AirPods to correct this.

Green (AirPods in case): This means that the case and AirPods are both fully charged.

Green (with case empty): This means that the case has at least one full charge left. In other words, it can still fully charge your AirPods.

Green (with power source): The AirPods and Case are fully charged and be removed from the power source.

Green (flashing): Wondering why your AirPod case is flashing green? There could be a battery-related issue. It could also mean that one or both AirPods are not recognized by the case. The AirPods will need to be reset if this happens.

No light: The AirPods and case have both run out of battery. Connect them to a power source and the status light will turn on.

Do you have a different status light problem? Our article on AirPod cases flashing red might help.

Spotting Fake AirPods

Much like most popular products, AirPods have their fakes too. The trouble is that it can be tough to know which are real or not.

Spotting fake AirPods right off the bat will save you in the long run. This is because the knock-offs are never as good as the originals.

Visual Check

The Box

If you can determine a fake without opening the box, it’ll be easier to return it.

You might think this is impossible without x-ray vision, but it can be done. Many knock-off products will have defects on the box.

The same is true for AirPod fakes. Carefully inspect the box, looking for any errors. This could be typos, blurry images, or even double spaces between words.

Apple doesn’t make such small mistakes.

The Case

The first thing you should know is that AirPod cases are only white. If the AirPods come in a different color case, then they’re fake.

Fake AirPod cases are bigger too, and only a few might close magnetically.

Yes, some people do have other color Apple cases but these are AirPod case covers. They come in many designs and colors and are bought separately.

These cases are a fun way to accessorize your AirPods. You can get matching iPad cases too.

The AirPods

If the box and the case have passed your inspection, it’s time to look at the AirPods.

The easiest way to do this would be to go onto the Apple website. They have 360-degree AirPod animations for each version they’ve released.

Compare your AirPod to the animation on the Apple website. Remember that real AirPods won’t have any flaws.

A good indicator for fake AirPods would be the status lights and buttons. AirPods don’t have status lights or any buttons, only the case has them.

Knock-offs will also weigh less than real ones. Cheaper materials are generally used and they won’t be as dense as real AirPods. If you have a scale, weigh the case and AirPods and compare them with Apple’s technical specs.

Connectivity Check

If you’ve come this far, then your AirPods have made it through the visual check. There is still a slight chance that they can be fakes though.

Checking how well they connect to your device will be the deciding factor.

Test Connection to iPhone

AirPods have Apple’s proprietary W1 or H1 chip. This allows them to connect to your device automatically. If the AirPods are real, you won’t have to go into your Bluetooth settings.

To connect to your device, all you need to do is place the AirPods next to it and open the case. A connection animation will appear on your screen.

Yes, some knock-offs can imitate this. It won’t be the same, but close enough that it could fool you. If it connects like proper AirPods but you’re unsure, try the next step.

Check the AirPods Bluetooth Settings on Device

The final step on your checklist is checking the Bluetooth settings.

When it comes to real AirPods, you have options in the Bluetooth settings. Go to the Bluetooth settings for your AirPods and click the information icon beside it.

You should have the following options:

Rename
Change the controls
Auto Ear Detection ON/OFF
Disconnect
Remove this device

With fake AirPods, you’ll likely only have the last two options.

Final Note

Only Gen 1 and 2 AirPods have the light on the inside of the case. But that only applies to the original case that they came with.

The AirPods with the light on the outside of the case are the newer models. These all have wireless charging cases, which seems to be the discerning factor.

Remember to follow the steps above to see if you have original AirPods.

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