I’ve been using AirPods with my Mac for years, always missing that instant connection window you get on iPhone. Last month I discovered AirBuddy, and it completely changed how I manage all my wireless devices from my Mac.
The first time I opened my AirPods case near my Mac Mini after installing AirBuddy, that familiar iOS-style popup appeared right on my desktop - battery levels for both earbuds and the case, exactly like on iPhone. But here’s what really got me: the app monitors battery levels for everything. My iPhone, iPad, Magic Trackpad, even my daughter’s Apple Watch when she’s nearby. All visible in the menu bar with real-time percentages.
I work between a Mac Studio at my desk and a MacBook Pro in the living room, and the Magic Handoff feature has become indispensable. Right-click any Bluetooth device in the menu bar and transfer it instantly to another Mac on your network. No more disconnecting and reconnecting - my AirPods just follow me between machines.
The app uses about 30MB of memory and essentially no CPU on my system. It needs Accessibility and Bluetooth permissions to work its magic, standard stuff for this type of utility. What surprised me was the Shortcuts integration - I created an automation that switches to my AirPods Max when I join a video call and back to speakers when I’m done.
One minor issue: if you have a crowded menu bar, the battery indicators can get hidden behind the notch on newer MacBooks. You can customize which devices show up, but on my 14-inch MacBook Pro I had to be selective about what to display.
Guilherme Rambo, the developer, has been incredibly responsive to feedback. When I reported a small bug with Magic Mouse battery reporting, he fixed it within a week. The app feels like it belongs in macOS - adapts to dark mode, uses native UI elements, never feels out of place.
AirBuddy costs $9.99 direct or comes with Setapp. If you bought version 1, upgrades are $4.99. Anyone who purchased in 2020 or later gets free updates. Worth every penny if you’re juggling multiple Apple devices daily.
After three weeks of use, I can’t imagine going back to guessing battery levels or manually switching Bluetooth connections. AirBuddy turned my Mac into the central hub for all my wireless devices, which is exactly what it should have been from the start.
