Our BlackPods giveaways have been extremely popular with MacRumors readers, so this week, we've once again teamed up with BlackPods to offer you a chance to win a pair of AirPods that have been custom-painted black to better match darker devices.

Black AirPods pair especially well with the new iPhone X, which features an OLED display with a thin black bezel even on the iPhone X models that come in silver.

blackpods1
BlackPods takes a standard pair of Apple AirPods and then paints them black using a proprietary coating system. The company uses a three-phase finishing process for a high-quality coating of paint that's not going to chip, fade, scuff, or wear off.

Each pair of BlackPods is completed by hand and is given a rigorous inspection to ensure a flawless finish. There are two options when it comes to BlackPods -- the BlackPods classic, with a high-gloss look, and the BlackPods Stealth, which has a matte satin finish.

blackpods2
BlackPods charges $279 for the BlackPods Classic and $299 for the BlackPods Stealth, a $120 to $140 premium over Apple's standard AirPods, but it's the only way to get a unique black finish on your AirPods.

Along with selling finished sets of painted AirPods, BlackPods also lets customers send previously purchased AirPods in for customization. This process costs $99 for the glossy black and $119 for the matte black, and it takes approximately 10 days to complete. Painting of both the AirPods and the case is included in the price.

blackpods3
Because BlackPods are re-painted AirPods, the full AirPods functionality remains intact, with a W1 chip for simple pairing, a long battery life, an accelerometer for ear detection, and gesture support.

We have one set of BlackPods to give away to a MacRumors reader, with the winner able to choose a Stealth or Classic finish. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (November 10) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 17. The winner will be chosen randomly on November 17 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Related Roundup: AirPods 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Top Rated Comments

Cbost Avatar
70 months ago
I cannot understand why Apple does t make these in black.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zantafio Avatar
70 months ago
I'd like a flesh color option
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
70 months ago
Great gift. Nobody else enter. Please?
Shoot - if I'd only read your comment before I entered... sorry!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nikon1 Avatar
70 months ago
Someone paints Air Pods black, gives them away, and it's news. Air Pods are okay, but they are another Apple product with mysterious success. They are ugly, they unpair, get loose, and have about the same function as a good pair of Bluetooth ear buds. What is the draw over these?? I returned my pair within a week and bought some buds that actually stay in the ear and don't draw stares.
HINT: Don’t Enter and you won’t win — GUARANTEED!

You’re welcome
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_mdavenport Avatar
70 months ago
I have the matte black version of these. Love ‘em.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhfenton Avatar
70 months ago
Someone paints Air Pods black, gives them away, and it's news. Air Pods are okay, but they are another Apple product with mysterious success. They are ugly, they unpair, get loose, and have about the same function as a good pair of Bluetooth ear buds. What is the draw over these?? I returned my pair within a week and bought some buds that actually stay in the ear and don't draw stares.
Maybe because absolutely none of those things are true, at least not for most of us. They fit. They pair more reliably than any bluetooth headphones I've ever used. They never fall out or feel loose. They switch quickly and seamlessly between current generation Apple devices (and a little less seamlessly between older Apple devices). They are reliably sweat resistant. (I've been running in mine for 10 months, longer than any pair of headphones has ever survived for me, even supposedly sweatproof Jaybirds.)

And though I would like a black pair. They look just fine in white. One day last week, on a bike trail at a local park, I saw four other runners wearing them out of maybe a dozen solo runners. And though it's not a random sampling, three out of six of us in my group at work have them. Two others thought they looked so stupid in my ears that they bought some for themselves.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 16.4 for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

Monday March 27, 2023 10:00 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 16.4, the fourth major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that came out last September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.4 comes two months following the release of tvOS 16.3. The tvOS 16.4 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update....