You probably have one sitting in a "junk drawer" right now. Or maybe you're scouring eBay because you lost yours and realize that the gen 1 airpod case is actually the bedrock of the entire wireless earbud revolution. It’s a little white pebble. It feels like a worry stone in your pocket. Honestly, it’s one of the few pieces of tech from 2016 that doesn't feel like an ancient relic, even if the battery inside is likely screaming for mercy by now.
The original case, model A1602, was a masterpiece of industrial design that Apple basically hasn't touched since. Why? Because it worked. But there is a massive amount of confusion about what this case actually does, which newer buds it fits, and why yours is probably charging at a snail's pace.
The Model A1602 Reality Check
If you flip open the lid and look into the little hollowed-out divot, you’ll see the model number. If it says A1602, you have a first-generation charging case. This is a "Lightning-only" device. No wireless charging. No MagSafe. Just a 5-watt wired connection that keeps those tiny stems alive.
It’s interesting how people forget that the gen 1 airpod case was actually sold alongside the second-generation AirPods for a while. Apple didn't just kill it off. They knew people wanted a cheaper entry point. The internal battery capacity is roughly 398 mAh. That sounds tiny compared to a smartphone, but it’s enough to fuel those buds for about 24 hours of total listening time—at least when the lithium-ion cells are fresh.
The problem is chemical aging. Lithium-ion batteries in these cases are notorious for "starving" if left uncharged for six months. If you find an old one that won't wake up, it’s likely the voltage dropped below the threshold where the controller chip allows a recharge. It’s a safety feature, but it’s also a death sentence for your gear.
Does It Actually Fit Newer AirPods?
This is where things get messy for buyers. You’ll see listings on Facebook Marketplace claiming a "universal" fit. That’s a lie.
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The gen 1 airpod case is physically compatible with both Version 1 (2016) and Version 2 (2019) AirPods. The stems are identical in length and thickness. You can take a pair of Gen 2 buds, drop them into a Gen 1 case, and they will charge perfectly fine. However, you lose the "Hey Siri" functionality if you're using the original 2016 buds, regardless of the case.
Don't even try to shove AirPods Pro or the 3rd Gen "squat" buds into this case. You’ll just end up scratching the contacts. The magnets are specifically aligned for the long-stem design. If you're buying a replacement, look at the LED light. On the gen 1 airpod case, the status light is inside the lid. If the light is on the front of the plastic, you’re looking at a wireless charging case, which is technically a different beast altogether.
The Grime Factor
Let’s talk about the "black dust." If you’ve owned this case for more than a month, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Tiny metallic shavings seem to manifest out of nowhere around the rim of the lid. It looks like your AirPods are growing a beard.
It’s actually magnetic debris. The lid uses fairly strong magnets to stay shut, and those magnets attract microscopic iron particles from the environment—your pocket, your bag, the air. Because the plastic is polished polycarbonate, these particles get ground into the surface every time the lid snaps shut.
Cleaning this isn't easy. Alcohol wipes help, but once the "pitting" starts, it's permanent. Some people use "dust guards"—thin metallic stickers—to prevent this. They work, but they also make the lid feel slightly "crunchy" when closing. It’s a trade-off.
Charging Speeds and Modern Power Bricks
Using a 140W MacBook Pro charger on a gen 1 airpod case won't blow it up, but it won't help either. The power management integrated circuit (PMIC) in the A1602 case is strictly limited. It draws about 2.5 watts to 5 watts.
- Fast Charging? Not really. You get about 3 hours of listening time from 15 minutes in the case.
- Heat Issues: If the case gets hot while charging, the battery is likely expanding. Stop using it. This is the "pillowing" effect that can eventually crack the seam of the white plastic.
- The Cable: High-quality MFi-certified cables are non-negotiable here. Cheap gas station cables often have slightly thicker Lightning tips that can stretch the port on the case, making it "loose" over time.
Why the Second-Hand Market is a Minefield
There are more fake Gen 1 cases on the market than real ones. Seriously. Shenzhen factories have perfected the weight of the plastic by adding small lead or metal slugs inside the casing to mimic the feel of the original battery.
How do you tell the difference? Look at the hinge. A real Apple gen 1 airpod case has a high-quality metal hinge that feels smooth and has a specific "clink" sound. Fakes usually have a plastic hinge painted to look like metal, or the "snap" sounds hollow and cheap.
Also, check the serial number on the underside of the lid. If you search that serial on Apple’s coverage check website and it says "Replaced Product," you might have a legitimate case that was swapped out, or a clone that's spoofing a real number. If the serial is blurry or off-center, it's a fake.
Another weirdly specific tell: the "Setup" button on the back. On a real case, that button is perfectly flush with the plastic. You should barely feel it when you run your thumb over it. On 90% of clones, the button is either recessed too deep or protrudes slightly.
Sustainability and the "Repair" Myth
Apple didn't design these to be fixed. The gen 1 airpod case is held together by an ungodly amount of industrial adhesive. iFixit famously gave it a 0/10 repairability score. If the battery dies, you can’t just "swap it out" like a TV remote.
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However, there is a company called Podswap that tries to recycle these, and some hobbyists on YouTube use dental picks and heat guns to get inside. For the average person, once the case stops holding a charge, it’s basically a paperweight.
But wait! Before you toss it, check if it’s just lint. I’ve seen hundreds of people think their case is broken when the Lightning port is just packed with pocket fluff. Take a wooden toothpick (not metal!) and gently dig into the port. You’d be surprised at the compacted wool that comes out. If the cable doesn't "click" into place, it's almost always dirt, not hardware failure.
Troubleshooting the "One Bud Not Charging" Issue
It’s the most common complaint. You put both buds in, walk away, and come back to find the left one at 100% and the right one at 0%.
Usually, this isn't the battery. It’s the contact points at the very bottom of the "wells" in the gen 1 airpod case. Sweat, earwax, and skin oils migrate down the AirPods stems and coat the gold charging contacts.
- Take a Q-tip.
- Dampen it with 90% or higher Isopropyl alcohol. (Don't soak it, just damp).
- Swirl it at the bottom of the charging well.
- Do the same for the silver "rings" at the bottom of the AirPod stems.
If that doesn't work, the spring-loaded pins inside the case might be stuck. You can sometimes wiggle them back into place with a very thin probe, but be gentle. If those pins snap, the case is done.
Future-Proofing an Aging Icon
We are moving toward a USB-C world. Even the new AirPods Pro and the iPhone 16 have ditched Lightning. Buying a gen 1 airpod case today feels like buying a vintage film camera—it’s cool, it works, but you’re carrying a cable just for one device.
If you're buying one for parts or as a cheap replacement, just know that the clock is ticking on the battery. Even a "New Old Stock" case that has been sitting in a box since 2017 will have a degraded battery because it hasn't been cycled.
Actionable Steps for Owners
- Check your firmware: Even the old cases pass through firmware updates to the buds. To do this, plug the case into power, put the AirPods inside, and leave it near your iPhone for 30 minutes. It happens silently.
- Cycle the battery: Don't leave the case at 0% for weeks. If you aren't using it, charge it to about 50% and check it every few months.
- Avoid knockoff chargers: The Gen 1 PMIC is sensitive. Use a 5W or 12W Apple brick if you can find one; it generates less heat than the high-wattage fast chargers.
- Deep clean the hinge: Use a dry toothbrush to get the gunk out of the hinge mechanism to prevent it from becoming "loose" or squeaky.
The gen 1 airpod case remains a testament to when Apple gets a "first try" almost perfectly right. It’s sleek, it’s iconic, and despite its lack of wireless charging, it still does the one thing it was built to do: keep your music going. Just keep it clean and watch out for the fakes.