Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro Review: Cover Your AirPods with Leather Luxury

Gear Diary is independently owned and operated. We receive compensation through advertising and from the companies whose products we review, usually in the form of the reviewed product. We test the products supplied to us, and the opinions expressed are our own.

Gear Diary is also reader-supported. When you buy through links posted on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

You can learn more by clicking here.

The Lowdown

I put my AirPods in the Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro as soon as they arrived. I love the leather case’s look and feel, and I appreciate knowing that the earphone case remains pristine. I’m just starting to see the Leather gain some character as it ages now that I’m constantly using them.

Overall
4

Pros

  • Beautiful leather available in two choices and multiple colors
  • Perfect fit that remains securely in place
  • Cutouts align perfectly for Lighting port, lanyard attachment, and speaker
  • Allows for wireless charging while in the case

Cons

  • A wrist strap should be included
  • Lack of magnets in the case results in less than full MagSafe compatibility

I have a number of excellent true wireless earbuds (TWE) from which to choose, but my daily driver is the AirPod Pro earbuds. I recently upgraded to the second-generation version of Apple’s TWE; they are less revolutionary and more evolutionary in features, but I like the improvements and am enjoying them, and I’m thrilled to have them protected by the new Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro.

In case you weren’t aware, the second-generation AirPods Pro looks the same as its predecessor, and its case is made from the same white glossy plastic that looks great when you pull it from the box but quickly begins to collect small scratches. (Hence the reason for a case!)

Of course, the second generation AirPods Pro have some significant improvements over the first generation inside, but from a physical design perspective, the changes are so minor it’s quite difficult to tell the first and second generations apart.

Only when you get to the charging case do the changes reveal this is a second-generation product… and even those changes are fairly subtle.

The Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro is the same size and shape as its predecessor. In fact, the two are so similar that, while designed for the 2G AirPod Pros, the new Nomad case is also compatible with the original AirPods Pro’s case.

The visible changes to the case are the small: a silver-colored anchor for a lanyard and some speaker perforations, which allow the case to be used with Apple’s excellent “Find My” program.

As someone who often misplaces items like AirPods and keys, “Find My” is a lifesaver. I now have AirTags on my keys, and with my wallet and having the ability to use “Find My” with my earbuds means all my daily drivers are now easily finable as I try to rush out the door in the morning.

The 2nd generation AirPods Pro on their charger.

Other changes to the charging case are less obvious. For example, the case can now wirelessly charge on an Apple Watch charger, and the case can magnetically connect to a MagSafe charging pad like the last few generations of the iPhone have.

I love this last feature as it not only guarantees the connected device is properly aligned for optimal charging, but it also ensures the device is exactly where I last left it.

As I previously noted, the charging case for the new AirPods Pro is the same size as the original AirPods Pro case. So while the Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro is compatible with the original AirPods Pro, the same is not true in reverse since cases for the first-generation AirPods Pro lack cutouts for the lanyard attachment and speaker.

The Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods

So let’s look at the Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro.

The Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods next to the Airpods Pro.

The case comes in two pieces.

Assempling the two pieces of the Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods on the Airprods Pro

The larger portion slips over the bottom of the AirPods case. Getting it to sit properly requires a tiny bit of pressure, but that’s a good thing since the tight fit means the case won’t slip off accidentally.

The fully installed Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods

The top piece is smaller and slips over the upper third of the case. I have a silicone case that I use with my original AirPods Pro that has a similar design, but on that case, the upper portion constantly falls off. Nomad’s design is so refined that this has yet to happen.

As the company puts it,

For Your AirPods Pro: Built with genuine Horween leather and a soft layer of interior microfiber, Modern Leather Case stylishly maintains the form factor of your AirPods Pro. Its snug two-piece construction feels great in hand and protects your AirPods from drops and scratches.

The Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro is available in Horween Leather for $39.95 and comes in your choice of black or rustic brown. Cases are also available for AirPods and the third generation AirPods. 

Interestingly, this is another product where Nomad has introduced a version that uses non-Horween Leather at a lower price. The Modern Leather case offers the same design for just $29.95; it’s available in your choice of black, brown, natural, or English tan.

I love Nomad’s Horween leather and have always appreciated the beautiful patina that develops over time. That noted, I checked out one of the company’s Modern leather iPhone cases, and it is lovely. In other words, I don’t think you can go wrong whether you go for the standard Leather or spend a few more dollars for the Horween leather version.

On both the Horween and Modern cases, the Leather is wrapped around a polycarbonate frame. This gives the case the necessary amount of rigidity. The interior is lined with microfiber to help keep your pricey Apple earbuds scratch-free.

The Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro has cutouts, not only for the Lightning port but also for the lanyard anchor and the speaker. In addition, a small hole lets the charging indicator light shine through the Leather. The Bluetooth setup button is covered but remains functional.

Modern Leather Case elevates the look and feel of your AirPods Pro (2nd gen) while offering protection from everyday wear and tear. Built with genuine, vegetable-tanned Horween leather, Modern Leather Case will patina with time to become uniquely yours.

Features:

  • Designed for AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
  • Compatible with AirPods Pro (1st gen)
  • Protective microfiber lining
  • Integrated light pipe for LED charging indicator
  • Precise speaker and lanyard cutouts

I put my AirPods in the Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro as soon as they arrived. I love the leather case’s look and feel, and I appreciate knowing that the earphone case remains pristine. I’m just starting to see the Leather gain some character as it ages now that I’m constantly using them.

At the same time, while I love the new case, it isn’t perfect.

Nomad sells a wrist strap that leverages the lanyard attachment for $9.95. Not everyone wants a wrist strap, so I can appreciate the fact that more than half of them might end up in landfills if they were included with the Modern Leather Case.

At the same time, I would have much preferred to Nomad include an option to get a lanyard for free with the purchase if the customer wants one. That would save on the waste, but it would add a bit more value to the purchase for people who wanted the lanyard.

The back side of the Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods

The more significant issue for me is that Nomad didn’t opt to include embedded magnets in the case. So while you can still charge your AirPods wirelessly using a MagSafe charger or the charger that came with an Apple Watch, you can’t connect the AirPods to a charger magnetically while they are in the case.

I’m sure Nomad had good reasons for this design choice, but I think a premium case like this shouldn’t take away functionality for the sake of protection, and that is exactly what happened here.

Full MagSafe compatibility was an enhancement Apple brought to the second generation of this AirPods Pro, but if you use Nomad’s case, you are kicked back into first-generation charging territory.

But while this lack of MagSafe compatibility is a bummer, it is far from a dealbreaker. I still love the case!

Perhaps the best thing about Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro is that it brings some class to an otherwise dull slab of white plastic. I’m a fan of this case; if you have a pair of AirPods, I suspect that you will be, too!

The Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro sells for $30 in Modern Leather and $40 in Horween Leather; they are available directly from the manufacturer

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Beautiful leather available in two choices and multiple colors; Perfect fit that remains securely in place; Cutouts align perfectly for Lighting port, lanyard attachment, and speaker; Allows for wireless charging while in the case

What Needs Improvement: A wrist strap should be included; Lack of magnets in the case results in less than full MagSafe compatibility

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!


About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.

4 Comments on "Nomad Modern Leather Case for 2nd Gen AirPods Pro Review: Cover Your AirPods with Leather Luxury"

  1. jenifergreenwell | January 31, 2023 at 5:07 pm |

    This would make a nice Valentine’s Day gift! Thanks for the review and giving me a great idea for a gift!

  2. Liz Armstrong | February 4, 2023 at 11:28 am |

    Beautiful case. Valentine’s day gift?

  3. Matthew Yonkoske | February 10, 2023 at 8:51 pm |

    And a charging case…cool.

  4. Nice case! This would be great for a valentine’s day gift!

Comments are closed.