Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores a zero in repairability test, but users aren’t too mad about it
While Apple adds new features to its AirPods, the company keeps forgetting one aspect that allows users to use the device for as long as possible.
When we buy new devices, how often do we consider their repairability? While there are different ways to dispose of older devices, a gadget’s life expectancy also depends on how it was manufactured.
Apple’s new earbuds got the attention of iFixit, the YouTube channel with 1.21 million subscribers.
Its video shows AirPods Pro 3 undergoing a repairability test to determine whether the recently upgraded accessory can be fixed in case of issues.
The teardown reveals what’s inside the AirPods Pro 3 and how it differs from its predecessor, AirPods Pro 2.
According to iFixit, Apple earbuds' batteries wear out after two to three years of use, and the same is true of the company’s latest AirPods.
Previous teardowns revealed that AirPods come in with glued batteries, which the channel calls a “critical design flaw.”
This makes it hard to repair the earbuds, with many repair shops refusing to try to fix them.
The same goes for the AirPods case, which includes a lithium battery that is also glued in, making it so much harder to access.
The video shows how removing AirPods components essentially destroyed the device, starting with the easily made cuts on the buds and the case.
A further teardown showed how heat is needed to remove the adhesive, and disconnecting the flex cable from the earbuds requires some force.
Because of this, Apple AirPods Pro 3 scored zero out of ten in iFixit's repairability rating.
The video started a discussion in the comments section, with some users backing Apple.
“If you want to talk about e-waste in the headphone space, target the millions of low-quality wired buds people would receive and trash constantly before these came along,” wrote one user.
“I have had my first-gen AirPods Pro for five years now without any issues,” noted one user, adding that while the battery doesn’t last that long anymore, they’re “amazed at how high-quality these devices are if you take good care of them.”
Some netizens pointed out that the company may have exchanged the repairability aspect to maintain a slimmer design.
“If a more repairable and interchangeable battery means a bulkier and heavier AirPod, I am more for the current design,” wrote one user.
“Honestly, I don't see how else someone would make earbuds this tiny, packed with so much tech, any more repairable. Most companies can't even package such tech together, let alone make it repairable,” added another commentator.
Apple introduced the next-generation AirPods Pro 3 nearly a month ago during its latest product launch.
The new earbuds boasted a new “Live Translation” feature, extended battery life, and five different sizes of foam-infused ear tips.
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