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For ten years, AirPods received a zero repairability rating from iFixit. The AirPods 5 break this streak, albeit narrowly. For the first time, the battery in the earbuds can be removed without damaging them – the charging case remains unchanged.
Apple introduced the AirPods 5 in September, featuring active noise cancellation and starting at €149. Now, the repair platform iFixit has disassembled the earbuds and published a teardown report on the AirPods 5 that is unprecedented for AirPods.
The earbuds received 2 out of 10 points for repairability. Since the first AirPods in 2016, iFixit had given each generation zero points, most recently in their teardown of the AirPods Pro 3.
Key Takeaways
- iFixit rates the AirPods 5 with 2 out of 10 points; all previous AirPods received zero.
- The battery in each earbud is held in place with two contact pins instead of soldered connections and can be removed.
- iFixit managed to open the device using a hairdryer and clamps, even without special tools, but the repair is still not easy.
- The charging case could only be opened by destroying it; Apple does not offer replacement parts or instructions.
Plug-in batteries instead of solder joints
The crucial difference lies in the connection. Instead of tiny soldered wires, the battery uses two contact pins that can be disconnected and reinserted like a plug. iFixit had already found a similar design in the AirPods 3, but couldn't reliably access the battery there without deforming or cutting open the casing.
With the AirPods 5, both earbuds opened cleanly around the driver. After removing the adhesive strips on the side of the battery, it could be taken out.
The left and right batteries are not the same. The polarity is reversed, and the contact pins are slightly offset. Therefore, a battery from the left earbud will not work in the right one – anyone buying a replacement later must make sure they are the correct side. Replacement batteries are not yet available.
Hair dryer instead of hot air station
Professionals use hot air, solvents, and custom-made holders to repair AirPods. iFixit wanted to know if it could be done without these methods and tried using a hairdryer on a low setting and a clamp. The attempt was successful, even on a second try.
Repairing it isn't easy. An initial attempt using the handle melted the plastic, and even the successful method required careful heating and patient prying. The important thing is that standard tools can actually reach the battery.
The charging case remains closed
Nothing changed with the charging case. The seams are tight, and even with a hot air gun, the inner shell couldn't be removed without damage. By the time iFixit reached the case's battery, the casing was destroyed. Instead of screws, Apple holds the parts together with plastic welds.
In the design of the version with the wireless charging case, iFixit also found the capacitive touch surface, which they know from the last two generations of AirPods Pro. Beneath this sits the H2 chip, which uses three microphones to control noise cancellation.
| Model | Repairability according to iFixit |
|---|---|
| AirPods 5 | 2 out of 10 |
| all previous AirPods generations | 0 out of 10 |
| Apple Watch | 3 to 4 out of 10 |
| Fairbuds by Fairphone | 10 out of 10 |
What the EU regulation has to do with it
For consumers in the EU, this finding comes at a time when regulations are changing. From February 18, 2027, the EU Battery Regulation requires that batteries in devices be removable and replaceable by the user. This summer, the Commission granted an exemption to the replaceable battery requirement for earphones. However, manufacturers are still not allowed to permanently install the batteries: independent specialist workshops must be able to replace them without damaging the device.
iFixit has now demonstrated exactly that with the AirPods 5 earbuds. They were unable to do so with the charging case. Switzerland is not bound by the EU regulation.
Two points that count
I consider these two points more significant than the number suggests. Until now, an AirPods earbud with a weak battery could practically only be replaced, not repaired. Now there is at least a way for repair shops to salvage it once replacement batteries are available.
For everyday use, little will change for the time being. Apple offers neither replacement parts nor instructions, and there's no self-service repair option for the earbuds. Anyone wanting to replace the battery will have to rely on independent repair shops – and on parts that don't yet exist.
AirPods are becoming repairable, in small steps
After ten years of zero points, the step is small, but it's a move in a direction that AirPods haven't explored before. The charging case shows how far there is still to go.
Would you have the battery in your AirPods replaced if a replacement was available – or do you buy a new pair after a few years anyway? Tell us in the comments how you handle it.
