iFixit Teardown: AirPods 5 Score 2/10 for Repairability
iFixit's teardown of the AirPods 5 gives them a repairability score of 2 out of 10, the first time an AirPods model has scored above zero.
iFixit has published a teardown of the new AirPods 5, awarding the earbuds a repairability score of 2 out of 10. It is the first time an AirPods model has received a score above zero from the repair-focused publication.
The teardown found that the batteries inside each AirPods 5 earbud can be removed and replaced without necessarily destroying the earbuds. However, the left and right batteries are not interchangeable due to reversed polarity and slightly different contact placement.
Further disassembly of the earbuds or their charging case remains impossible without destroying them, according to iFixit.
Since Apple launched the original AirPods in 2016, iFixit has consistently given them a 0 out of 10 for repairability. The 2 out of 10 score for the AirPods 5 marks a slight improvement, though the earbuds remain difficult to repair.
Quick answers
What repairability score did iFixit give the AirPods 5?
iFixit gave the AirPods 5 a repairability score of 2 out of 10.
Can the AirPods 5 batteries be replaced?
Yes, the batteries inside each earbud can be removed and replaced without necessarily destroying the earbuds, but the left and right batteries are not interchangeable due to reversed polarity and slightly different contact placement.
Is further disassembly of the AirPods 5 possible?
No, further disassembly of the earbuds or their charging case is still impossible without destroying them.