Apple AirPods Pro 2 receive dismal repairability score from teardown specialists
Apple took its time with delivering the second-generation AirPods Pro, with the original model remaining the company's flagship earbuds for nearly three years. While the company promises that the new earbuds improve upon their predecessors in various ways, the design remains identical. Unfortunately, the lack of design changes also applies internally, which iFixit demonstrates in its video below.
Hence, the AirPods Pro 2 are improbable, if not impossible, to fix. For example, the earbuds and the bundled charging case are difficult to open without damaging their plastic housings. In fact, iFixit resorted to destroying both the earbuds and the charging case to access most elements. Worse still, Apple liberally uses adhesive, rendering batteries and connectors stuck in place.
Unsurprisingly, iFixit awarded the AirPods Pro 2 zero points for repairability. While it is worth noting that Apple offers a battery replacement service for its earbuds, the aversion to making the AirPods Pro 2 repairable is at odds with recent iPhone changes, such as the iPhone 14 featuring a removable back panel. In short, it seems that the millions of AirPods Pro 2 units that Apple sells will end up as e-waste within the next few years, rather than recycled or reused when their original batteries are spent and people do not fancy paying US$49 to have replacements fitted.
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