One AirPods Pro Owner Didn’t Appreciate The Charging Case’s Glossy Finish, So He Sanded It Down To Prevent It From Becoming A Fingerprint Magnet

Feb 16, 2026 at 05:00pm EST
An AirPods Pro owner sanded down the charging case to make it less glossy

The polished glossy finish has always been Apple’s ‘go to’ option for its wireless earbuds, and while it looks flawless, it attracts a lot of dust and fingerprints. Those who are extra picky about these trade-offs can just purchase an aftermarket case and call it a day. However, one AirPods Pro owner took things to the extra mile and got rid of that gloss using sandpaper. Now that’s one way to get rid of a problem.

Using a 1,000-grit sandpaper, the AirPods Pro charging case now features a matte finish

On Reddit, an AirPods Pro owner with the username ‘Dust-by-Monday’ showed off his sanded charging case placed next to the regular accessory, with the difference being night and day. Using a 1,000-grit sandpaper, the case was transformed into a matte texture that has lost its glossy finish, meaning that it will no longer catch fingerprints or dust. The finished product feels ‘silky’ and ‘smooth,’ and if the charging case ever catches grime, it can be cleaned rather quickly.

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However, not everyone agrees that this is the right step, with Reddit user ‘T-K101’ claiming that the matte finish of the AirPods Pro will pick up dust faster. The sanded part is expected to cause staining that will get into the grooves. Of course, those who want to give this a try should have some experience in sanding down items before, or else you’ll probably have a severely worn-down AirPods Pro case.

A similar use case of employing sandpaper on an Apple product was demonstrated on an M3 MacBook Air, where the owner got rid of the sharp edges using a 220-grit orbital sander and then applied Mothers Aluminum Polish to deliver the finishing touches. If you ever felt that tingling sensation to attempt this, do so at your own risk. For the majority of AirPods Pro owners, we highly recommend protecting the charging case with a cover.

News Source: Reddit

About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.

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