AirPods User Creates Charging Cradle With 3D Printer - MacRumors
Skip to Content

AirPods User Creates Charging Cradle With 3D Printer

The launch of a new Apple product usually comes along with the debut of many third-party accessories, but the only viable option for AirPods currently being sold are cables that attach to each headphone to prevent drops. One alternative that might see fruition down the road by a few companies is a charging dock that cradles the AirPods case in one convenient place.

airpods-3d-printed-dock
This week, Reddit user jimbojsb shared a project on Thingiverse that was created with a Wanhao Duplicator i3 V2 3D printer, resulting in a desktop charging cradle for the AirPods and their charging case. The dock has a hole underneath to pass a Lightning cable through, so when the charging case is placed into it, the AirPods begin charging up again.


If you have the requisite 3D printer, Thingiverse provides all of the files you'll need to download and print the AirPods Charge Dock for yourself. You can also simply order one that's already been printed through the site's "Order This Printed" button.

Check out more pictures of the dock on Thingiverse.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...
european union eu

Apple Testing AirPods-Like Pairing, Live Activities and Notification Forwarding for Third-Party Wearables in EU With iOS 26.5

Monday March 30, 2026 1:42 pm PDT by
For the last several months, Apple has been working on interoperability changes that are set to be implemented in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple is developing AirPods-like pairing and notification forwarding for third-party wearables. Testing on these features started back in iOS 26.3 and continued in iOS 26.4, but the options have not yet launched. Apple is ...
airpods pro 3 blue

Apple Offers 10% Off AirPods and More for Earth Day Device Recycling

Thursday April 16, 2026 6:19 am PDT by
Apple is offering 10% off AirPods, Beats, or accessories to customers who recycle an eligible iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac at a participating Apple Store through May 16. The discount applies when the recycling and purchase are completed in the same transaction. The promotion runs from today, April 16, through to May 16. Products brought in for recycling undergo screenings, with eligible ...

Top Rated Comments

122 months ago
It's a dock for a dock :o
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
122 months ago
Why is this even news??? Slow day?
Oh boy, I smell overwhelming jealousy in that post :eek:
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsplusmacs Avatar
122 months ago
Took me a day to figure out. (duh) but the Air Pod case also fits perfectly on the Apple iPhone (7) dock.

Two'fer!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kabeyun Avatar
122 months ago
Sound quality and the need to keep yet ANOTHER device always charged. Throw in a stupid price tag for those two major cons and you've got a bad product.
"Keep yet another device always charged"
So you're opposed to all wireless headphones, then. Your call. Not a universal opinion for sure.

"Stupid price tag"
Earin: $250
Bragi: $250
VerveOne: $250
Elite Sport: $250
Earato: $300
HereOne: $300
AirPods: $160
I guess stupid not so much.

"Sound quality"
I hear they sound fine. Reviews range from fine/okay to better-than-expected. I'm sure you can find one that didn't like the sound. Anyone wanting audiophile quality will either laugh at earbuds or be happy to spend more than only $160. I bet most people are buying earbuds to exercise or be mobile (where audiophile quality is irrelevant), not to sit down to Mozart in a listening room. You've obviously tried them, so what's your experience?

You also didn't mention the tech, which most reviewers and first-handsers marvel at, and the durability which is really impressive.

So far you haven't sold me that they're dismal.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kabeyun Avatar
122 months ago
Wut? You're kidding, right? There's tons of useful stuff out there that's 3D printed. But, considering the earpods are actually a dismal product, this should be just another useless 3D printed object.
I'm gonna bite, go the other way, and ask why you say they're dismal. Most early feedback hasn't even been negative, let alone dismal.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
122 months ago
That's pretty insulting considering I use other Apple products every single day.
Oh please. One has nothing to do with the other. You came here to bash a product that many enjoy without giving valid reasons and then you bashed the guy who used a 3d printer to create something for his pods. No, face the fact that you have a mean streak and if there were an ignore feature, almost everyone would use it to not see your posts.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)