AirPods 5 Finally Break Apple’s 0/10 Repairability Streak

Apple has improved the repairability of its AirPods 5, according to a new teardown by iFixit. The main change is the return to pronged battery contacts, which are easier to disconnect and replace than the previously used glued-in battery connections. This is significant because battery issues are common in wireless earbuds. However, despite this improvement, repairing the AirPods 5 remains a challenging process.

Opening the earbud requires securely clamping it and applying hot air to the casing to soften the adhesive. The battery is still secured with adhesive strips, and the left and right AirPods have batteries with opposite polarities, preventing simple swapping. iFixit gave the AirPods 5 a 2/10 repairability score, marking an improvement over previous models, which consistently scored a 0/10.

While the battery is now more replaceable, the overall repairability of the AirPods 5 is still poor, with most internal components difficult to access and replace.