AirBuddy 3: AirPods Pop-Ups, Unified Bluetooth Control

数码荔枝编辑部

发布于 2026-08-28

Using AirPods with an iPhone is incredibly convenient: opening the case displays an animation, and the battery level and noise control mode are instantly clear. On a Mac, although they can still be connected, many operations often feel less convenient.

If you also have devices such as a Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard or Apple Watch on your desk, checking their battery levels or switching control between devices often means searching through the menu bar and settings.

Today, we’re introducing AirBuddy 3, a Mac Bluetooth device management tool available from the lizhi.shop software store.

AirBuddy 3 brings several feature upgrades and is suitable for users who want to manage their Mac Bluetooth accessories in one place.

¥35.00

Headphone Connection Animation Pop-up

AirBuddy’s most iconic feature is bringing the familiar AirPods experience from iPhone to Mac.

Open the headphone case and the device status will pop up on your Mac screen, allowing you to see the remaining battery levels of the headphones and charging case at a glance.

There’s no need to dig through the Bluetooth settings. A quick glance is enough to confirm the device connection status, so you can keep your attention on work or entertainment.

View Device Battery Levels in One Place

AirBuddy supports not only AirPods, but also displays the status of Beats, Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and other devices.

With AirBuddy 3, it’s also more convenient to display the battery levels of your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch on your Mac, usually without needing to pair them separately as with version 2.

You can also set low-battery and fully charged notifications, so you can charge or stop charging your keyboard, mouse and headphones in good time instead of having to guess.

The New Floating Window Is More Powerful

AirBuddy 3 introduces the Action HUD floating window. Connecting devices, adjusting the volume and switching noise control modes can all be done through it, while various status notifications are displayed there too.

The new version also adds interactive desktop widgets, allowing information such as device battery levels and audio playback status / controls to be placed directly on the desktop.

These widgets can also be placed on the Lock Screen / screensaver interface, allowing you to view album artwork, pause playback and switch tracks at any time while listening to music.

If you’re using macOS 26 or later, you can also experience the new Liquid Glass interface, which matches the visual style of the latest version of macOS.

Faster Headphone Controls

When wearing AirPods while working, you often need to switch connected devices or adjust the noise cancellation / Transparency mode.

AirBuddy can work with keyboard shortcuts to perform these actions quickly, saving you from opening Control Centre repeatedly.

Version 3 further expands its Shortcuts and automation capabilities, making it suitable for adding actions such as connecting headphones and adjusting modes to your own workflows.

If you’re looking for a Mac Bluetooth device management tool, you can learn more about AirBuddy 3 based on your system version and usage habits.

¥35.00

No More Unwanted Audio Input Switching

After connecting AirPods, a Mac sometimes automatically switches the microphone input to the headphones, which can easily disrupt your existing settings during meetings or recordings.

AirBuddy 3 adds an audio input lock feature, allowing you to lock your preferred built-in Mac microphone or external microphone.

Switch Mac Accessories with One Click

Switching a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad between multiple Macs can often be a hassle.

AirBuddy’s Magic Handoff feature allows your keyboard, mouse and trackpad to move quickly between multiple Macs.

Both versions 2 and 3 support this, but the Macs involved in the switching process need to use the same major version of AirBuddy.

Which Should You Choose: Version 2 or Version 3?

Both versions 2 and 3 are currently available. AirBuddy 2 supports macOS 10.14.6 and later at minimum, making it suitable for users of older systems.

AirBuddy 3 requires macOS 14 or later. It adds Action HUD, interactive widgets, media controls, audio input locking and the Liquid Glass interface, as well as more extensive automation capabilities.

If you only need the classic AirPods connection animation, battery display and Magic Handoff, AirBuddy 2 is still sufficient.

If you’ve already upgraded to a newer system or want to use features such as Action HUD, AirBuddy 3 is clearly the better choice.

Upgrade Policy for Existing Users

If you’re an existing AirBuddy user, it’s also worth taking a look at the upgrade policy:

Users who purchased AirBuddy 2 on or after 1 January 2025 can upgrade to AirBuddy 3 according to the applicable policy;

Existing users who previously purchased AirBuddy 2 from lizhi.shop can also check the relevant upgrade options in the software store.

AirBuddy 3 is suitable for users who want to view the status of their AirPods, Magic keyboard and mouse, and other Apple accessories in one place on their Mac. It makes AirPods and a desk full of Apple accessories much easier to use with a Mac.

¥35.00