Known for being true nightmares to disassemble, Apple’s wireless earbuds are taking an unprecedented first step toward repairability. The famous disassembly specialists iFixit have in fact just given a (slightly) positive score to the recent Apple AirPods 5. A small revolution for the Cupertino company, even if there is not yet enough to dance the polka naked.
0/10, that was the zero score that the iFixit team systematically gave to all previous Apple AirPods earphones in the field of repairability, namely the ease with which an electronic device can be disassembled and repaired to extend its lifespan.
A symbolic milestone finally crossed for the earphones
A score that is finally becoming positive (in the purely mathematical sense) for the manufacturer's very latest AirPods 5, even though for this first encouraging result, the score is only... 2/10. Concretely, the earphones are easier to open, making it possible to remove the battery without damaging them. A hair dryer and a pair of pliers are enough for the operation, even if a great deal of caution and patience are required.
Charging case: access still denied
It's more complicated for the charging case, because the seams are very tight, and require force as well as specialized equipment. It is therefore difficult to reach the battery without destroying the whole thing, especially because of plastic welds instead of simple screws. In any case, this is a step in the right direction, and we hope that from now on, this score will continue to grow for future iterations.
For the record, the AirPods 5 are already available. Indicative prices: €149 for the basic version, and €169 for the model with wireless charging case.
Reminder of the key features of the Apple AirPods 5:
• Type: True Wireless earphones
• Chip: Apple H2
• Noise reduction: active (ANC)
• Battery life: up to 4 hours for the standard version, and up to 5 hours for the model with wireless charging case
• Case connector: USB-C
