Can you bring wireless earbuds or AirPods on a plane?

Wireless earbuds on flights in and from Japan

The rule for wireless earbuds comes from the Civil Aviation Bureau's list of restricted items and is the same on domestic and international flights.

Wireless earbuds and headphones: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan
Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes	Yes.
In checked baggage	Conditions	The earbuds: yes if protected from damage; a device over 2.7Wh must be switched completely off. Japan's list does not name the charging case. Its power bank entry covers products with a built-in lithium battery that are meant to supply power to other devices, and power banks cannot be checked.

What the lists say about earbuds, charging cases and Bluetooth

Earbuds and headphones are judged as devices with a lithium battery inside. The charging case and use during the flight are separate questions.

No list names earbuds: Japan's list has no row for earphones. A wireless pair comes under portable electronic devices with a lithium-ion battery, accepted in cabin and hold up to 160Wh. The TSA's nearest entry is Headphones. Australia's CASA mentions headphones only in its entry for small mains-powered appliances and keeps a separate entry for devices containing lithium cells.
Below 2.7Wh the list asks for protection, not a power-off: Japan's list attaches the power-off duty in checked baggage only to devices whose lithium-ion battery is over 2.7Wh. What applies at every size is protection against accidental activation and damage, for which the list suggests a sturdy suitcase or wrapping in clothes. CASA uses the same 2.7 Wh figure for Bluetooth trackers such as AirTag and Tile.
The charging case is not named anywhere: None of the lists mentions an earbud charging case. The nearest wording all concerns items that exist to supply power. Japan's leaflet defines a power bank as an item with a built-in lithium-ion battery meant for charging other electronic devices. The TSA counts cell phone battery charging cases as spare batteries, for carry-on only. Hong Kong's CAD treats articles whose primary purpose is a power source as spare batteries.

Wireless earbuds: the rule country by country

Extra conditions apply in Mainland China.

Wireless earbuds and headphones: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country
Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	Yes	With limits	Yes. Source
United StatesTSA	Yes	Yes	Headphones are listed as allowed in both carry-on and checked bags.TSA entry: Headphones Source
European UnionEuropean Commission, EASA	Yes	With limits	Portable electronic devices should be carried in hand baggage, not checked baggage. If one must go in checked baggage (not recommended), it has to be completely switched off and protected from accidental activation. Source
South KoreaMOLIT Aviation Security 365	Yes	Yes	Electronic devices with a lithium battery installed are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage (lithium metal 2g or less, lithium-ion 100Wh or less). Source
TaiwanCivil Aviation Administration	Yes	With limits	A portable electronic device with a lithium battery: carrying it in hand baggage is recommended. If checked with a lithium-ion battery over 2.7 Wh, it must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode). Source
Hong KongCivil Aviation Department	Yes	With limits	Covered as portable electronic devices containing lithium batteries: allowed in carry-on and checked baggage. In checked baggage, a device whose lithium ion battery exceeds 2.7 Wh must be completely switched off. Source
Mainland ChinaCAAC	With limits	With limits	Lithium battery in a portable device: up to 100Wh can be carried on; over 100Wh and up to 160Wh needs airline approval. Checked: lithium batteries are banned and digital electronics should not be packed; ask the airline about such devices. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASA	Yes	With limits	Portable electronic devices with lithium batteries can go in carry-on or checked baggage and should be carried in carry-on. If checked, the device must be completely switched off and protected from damage and unintentional activation.CASA Pack Right entry: Portable electronic devices containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells, battery or batteries (watches, calculators, cameras, mobile phones, laptops, camcorders etc.) Source

Each row comes from that authority's own page. Airlines can be stricter, and the screening officer has the final say.

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