Apple’s Lightning-only charging case for the third-gen AirPods doesn’t make sense

Apple has quietly introduced a new option for its third-generation non-Pro AirPods — a Lightning-only charging case (

). On the surface, that’s reasonable: forgoing wireless charging on the second-gen AirPods saved you $40. But this time around, you’re only saving ten dollars: they cost $169, compared to $179 for the MagSafe version (which can also be charged with a Lightning cable).

For those looking to trade convenience…