AirPods make for excellent gifts for friends, loved ones, and anyone you hold in high esteem. Like most Apple products, they are highly desirable and collectible, and any recipient is sure to appreciate such a thoughtful present.
AirPods have the further advantage of being fairly affordable. This makes them an even better gift option than other Apple products, which are admittedly on the pricy side. With AirPods, you have a reasonably priced gift that is every bit as desirable as anything in the Apple line.
As appealing as AirPods are, there is a way to make them even more precious. Adding a personalized message to your gift takes it up a notch higher and truly makes it a memorable present that the recipient will cherish.
If you are thinking of giving a special someone a pair of AirPods, here’s what you need to know about personalizing them with a gift message:
What is the Apple gift message?
The simplest way to personalize AirPods is by adding a gift message to the packing slip upon purchase. As with many items in the online Apple Store, you can add this greeting to your AirPods at no cost. We’ll give you directions on how to do so later in the article, but it’s as easy as clicking on the “add” or “edit gift” options at the checkout page.
If you are purchasing several items for different recipients, you could even add a message for each. This makes it easier to sort out which gift is for whom if you want to send several Apple products to a single household.
Is the gift message and engraving the same thing?
Now you might be confused about the differences between the gift message and the engraving that Apple offers for many of its products. Both options allow you to add a personalized message to your purchase, and they are excellent ways to add value to your gift.
The main difference is that gift messages are printed on the packing slip that the recipient receives with their package. This could be any greeting the sender wishes, and is specified via the “add” or “edit gift” option in the Apple Store’s checkout page.
Again, senders have the option to include a unique message for each item if they plan to send several Apple products to the same household. This is a convenient option for Christmas or other holidays when family members usually receive gifts at the same time.
Please note that it isn’t possible to include a gift message with items sent to the recipient directly from the supplier.
As for engraved text or messages, these are custom options that Apple offers for some of their products. It is available for the following:
- AirPod/AirPod Pro/AirPod Max
- AirTag
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
- iPad
Senders can customize their purchases with a string of characters that may include the following in any combination:
- Emojis
- Names
- Initials
- Numbers
- Dates
There are limits to the number of characters that can be engraved on different products. While you can have as many as 22 characters engraved on the AirPod Pro, you are limited to 14 characters on standard AirPods. If you go above the limit for your chosen product, you will be presented an error message.
Keep in mind that messages are engraved into the product using laser technology, which means that it is there permanently. Make sure to get the spelling and your intended characters right as you can’t erase or modify them once they are imprinted.
The engraving option can’t be done in a physical Apple Store, and is available only for products purchased online. Furthermore, delivery times for engraved products might take a few days longer than products without this custom option.
The good news is that, like the gift message, engraving is available at no cost. But while the gift message is printed only on the packing slip, the engraving will be imprinted on the product permanently. This is a great way to add a nice custom touch to the Apple product that you want to give to a special someone as a gift.
Other custom gift options from Apple
Apart from the gift message and engraving, Apple also allows you to personalize your purchase with a special gift box and customized card. Information on how to avail of this option is provided below.
How do I add a gift message to my AirPods?
Adding a gift message to your AirPod purchase is easy! Simply select the item that you wish to purchase in your bag and click on the checkbox that says “This is a gift”.
Alternatively, you can click on the option that says “Add a free gift message”. You will then be presented a message box where you can type in your message. After you are done, click on the “Save message” button. That’s it!
For a small additional fee, you could also have your purchase wrapped in a special Apple Gift Wrap. This option comes with the following:
- A signature gift box
- A classy red ribbon
- A greeting card with your personal message
To have your gift wrapped, click on the checkbox that says “This is a gift”. You will then be presented with the option to have your purchase wrapped as described above.
Again, this offer applies only to Apple products purchased online, and is not available from the physical stores. Expect to have a few days added to the delivery schedule as well if you opt to have it gift wrapped.
