iFixit’s AirPods 5 teardown finds a repairability improvement

iFixit gave Apple’s AirPods 5 a repairability score of 2/10, citing a sealed charging case and a lack of replacement parts and repair manuals from Apple. The teardown was documented in a step-by-step article and an accompanying video titled “We’ve Given AirPods 0/10 for 10 Years. Until Now.”

iFixit called the charging case a “disaster”: it had to be destroyed to reach the internal battery. The earbuds themselves show an improvement over earlier AirPods. Their batteries use plug-in prongs instead of being soldered in place, making them simpler to replace. iFixit also found that the earbuds could be opened with a hairdryer and a clamp, without specialized tools.

iFixit said skilled technicians and experienced do-it-yourself repairers would probably be able to replace the AirPods 5 batteries with a decent success rate. The source notes that Apple has said it balances durability with repairability, and that making a device easier to repair can affect durability, including waterproofing.

The source contrasts the AirPods 5 with Fairphone’s Fairbuds and Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 5, which it describes as having replaceable batteries. It concludes that the AirPods 5 remain difficult to repair, but their battery design is a step toward easier repairs.