Apple AirPods Have A Terrible Design, Can't Be Fixed Once Broken

Apple AirPods are known as the world’s best-selling wireless earbuds with millions of users around the world. But inside each of the earbud house a small lithium-ion battery which could die for being recharged constantly after just two years.

Most of the rechargeable batteries have a limited lifespan. And eventually, they need maintenance or recycling. The battery replacement is very common on smartphones and laptops. In 2018, Apple introduced a new battery replacement policy for older iPhones for $29.

But with AirPods, there’s much less support. First of all, it’s not possible to determine the health of the batteries or the charging case. Secondly, the manufacturer doesn’t even share detailed instructions on the battery’s lifespan. A spokesperson of Apple said that the AirPods batteries have been designed to last for a long time. There are a lot of users who still use their first-generation of AirPods which still have great battery life. However, there are also reports stating that the batteries of the AirPods became broken only after 18 months.

When the batteries of the AirPods are broken, even Apple employees are confused regarding the solutions. According to the Washington Post, Apple responded saying, if the AirPods are used for less than a year and they don’t last up to 5 hours of listening, Apple will replace them for free.

Apple has recently started selling AppleCare+ warranty for $29 which includes batteries. But this extended warranty only lasts for two years, not long enough to save every pair of AirPods.

If your AirPods are not covered by warranty, Apple will replace them for $49. Therefore, the actual cost will be $98. Replace the charging case costs $49.

This is considered to be expensive since replacing an iPhone’s battery only costs $49 while replacing an Apple Watch’s battery costs $79. So what makes the price of replacing AirPods’ batteries so expensive?

The answer is that Apple doesn’t fix AirPods. The company just gives you a new one to replace your old earbud.

Sounds strange, right? If the batteries of your smartphone, smartwatch or tablet run out fast, the most simple solution would be giving them new batteries. But if there’s something wrong with your AirPods and you want new batteries, the answer is unfortunately no. Even if it is Apple, a repairing store, an expert or a technological engineer, it is not possible since the design of AirPods doesn’t allow battery replacement.

Kyle Wiens, chief executive of repair site iFixit, which often offers instructions on how to disassemble electronic devices as well as selling replacement parts carried out an autopsy on AirPods.

For his first try, he cut himself. For the next try, the battery of the earbud caught on fire. There was smoke rising when he tried to heat the earbud to loosen the glue.

Wiens warned that AirPods are not made to be disassembled.

The silver cap at the end of the earbud, where most people think can open and remove the battery, is actually a “scam.” It is glued tightly and you cannot remove the battery even when you melt the glue. Finally, Wiens used a special knife to destroy the plastic wrap around the battery of the earbud.

It is revealed that inside each earbud of the AirPods has a lot of glue, covering around the battery. After trying to peel off the battery, you cannot reassemble the earbud since it now consists of countless small fragments.

Wiens said he has tried this for five times on both the first and the second-generation AirPods. On the scale of 10 in terms of “fixability,” the Apple AirPods score 0.

When being asked about this matter, Apple has yet to make any comment.

Apple is obsessed with making thin products. The desire for everything to be a few millimeters thinner led to faulty MacBook keyboards, iPads catching fire at recycling centers and now millions of AirPods could end up in the trash can.

Vice called AirPods a tragedy. The manufacturer, instead of sealing the electronic device with screws and pins, uses glue. It makes the device lighter and more moisture and dust resistant. But at the same time, it makes the device “impenetrable.” The rival of the AirPods, the Samsung Galaxy Earbuds which cost $129 have a battery that can be easily removed with a sliding gesture.