What’s happened? The AirPods Pro 3 might not be as reparable as users expect them to be. A recent iFixit teardown of the wireless headphone reveals the disappointing verdict, with the buds earning a score of 0. Yep, zero.
- The seemingly new design is a repairer’s nightmare, according to the testing.
- This isn’t the first time that a set of Apple’s wireless earbuds have scored 0 for repairability on iFixit, with the AirPods Pro 2 suffering the same fate.
- Opening up the AirPods Pro 3 for repair will result in them being permanently broken.
Why is this important? The AirPods Pro 3 are marketed as the most advanced in-ear noise cancellation device from Apple. While they might live up to the hype in terms of audio performance, for the price you pay, you’ll need to take very good care of them.
- In its teardown, iFixIt refers to AirPods as “some of the most unrepairable, wasteful products you could possibly buy.”
- The report goes on to warn; “The batteries in AirPods, like in all portable electronics, will wear out after 2-3 years of normal use. The newly released AirPods Pro 3 are no exception.”
- The batteries in the AirPods Pro 3 are glued in, so while they are the most accessible of any AirPods model, replacing them is extremely difficult.
Why should I care? For $249, you might expect a product that is durable and repairable. While the AirPods Pro 3 failed to provide any repairability assurance, they did score points for durability.
- With IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance, you should feel relatively confident the AirPods Pro 3 can handle the rough and tumble of every day life.
- It’s not just an issue with AirPods though, as many wireless earbuds suffer from poor repairability, due to the tiny nature of their design making it tricker to create something which can be taken apart easily.
Okay, what’s next? Many wireless earbuds struggle to provide solid repairability. With Apple pushing environmental messaging each year, users can only hope future AirPods models will be more repairable.
- If you are after a set of wireless earbuds which can be repaired easily, the Fairphone Fairbuds scored 10 out of 10 on iFixIt – although they’re not officially available to buy in the US.
