https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/12/apple-announces-a-wireless-charging-case-for-the-airpods/

Apple announced the AirPods at the iPhone 7 launch event. A year later, Apple is already updating its wireless earbuds, well at least its case. Even though the AirPods are still backordered in most stores, the company just announced a new optional charging case.

The AirPods case still works and looks more or less the same. But the indicator light is now outside of the case so that you can check the status of the battery without having to open the case. Why is that? Because you can just put it on the AirPower wireless charging pad and forget about it.