AirPods 5 disassembled
The battery in each AirPods 5 earbud can be removed and replaced without destroying the earbud, according to a teardown by iFixit, one of the first to take the new model apart. That change earned AirPods 5 a repairability score of 2 out of 10 — modest, but the first score above zero in AirPods history. The improvement applies to the earbud batteries only: the rest of the earbud and the charging case remain effectively unrepairable, and left and right batteries are not interchangeable.
What you need to know
- iFixit rated AirPods 5 at 2/10 for repairability; every previous AirPods generation received 0/10.
- Each earbud uses a battery with pin contacts that plugs into a connector instead of being soldered in place.
- Left and right batteries have reversed polarity and slightly different contact placement, so they cannot be swapped between sides.
- iFixit could not open the charging case without destroying it, and nothing beyond the battery inside the earbud can be removed without damage.
Why AirPods scored zero for a decade
Battery wear has dogged AirPods since the first model in 2016. Apple long maintained that the earbuds’ batteries could not be replaced, so a worn battery effectively ended the device’s life. It reached the point where a US startup began replacing batteries through an exchange pool, because proper repair simply did not exist.
For all those years, iFixit gave every AirPods generation the same repairability score: zero out of ten. Batteries were held in place by a thick layer of adhesive, contacts were soldered, and the housing could not be opened and reassembled without damage. In practice, any repair turned into a dissection with an unpredictable outcome.
An earbud battery is a consumable part, just like the one in an iPhone, only tiny. After two to three years of heavy use, AirPods hold a charge noticeably worse. Officially, Apple offered only replacement of the entire earbud, while repair shops were left to cut the housing open and glue it back together.
What iFixit found inside AirPods 5
On the outside, AirPods 5 look almost identical to the previous generation. The meaningful change is internal: the battery in each earbud can now be taken out and replaced without destroying the AirPods.
The key is a battery with pin contacts. Rather than being permanently soldered, it plugs into a connector. Apple used a similar design in AirPods 3 but dropped it in AirPods 4. However, the battery in AirPods 3 was very hard to reach, while the AirPods 5 housing opens noticeably more easily.
Removed AirPods 5 battery
How the battery came out
In iFixit’s teardown, the adhesive was first softened with an ordinary hair dryer, the earbud was secured in a clamp, and the housing was carefully pried open. The battery was then pulled out with small tweezers. According to iFixit’s specialists, disconnecting it is intuitive, with no tricky latches.
The final verdict: 2 out of 10. That sounds modest, but it is the first nonzero score in AirPods history. The full teardown is available in iFixit’s report, which also includes CT scans showing how tightly Apple packed the battery, microphones, and H2 chip into each earbud.
What can and cannot be repaired
Two out of ten looks like a breakthrough only against a history of zeros. The improvement concerns exactly one component. Here is what iFixit was able to do with each part of the set:
| What fails | Replaceable? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Earbud battery | Yes | Requires heat, a clamp, and care; left and right batteries differ |
| Other earbud internals | No | The earbud cannot be disassembled beyond the battery without breaking it |
| Charging case | No | Could not be opened without destruction; iFixit calls it a disaster |
In other words, the repair addresses battery wear, which the original report describes as the most common reason AirPods end up retired. But if a microphone, speaker, or the case itself fails, the options remain the same: replacing the whole component. The case also contains a battery that ages over time, and repairing it is not something owners should count on for now.
Left and right batteries are not interchangeable
One detail is worth knowing in advance: the batteries in the left and right earbuds cannot be swapped. Their polarity is reversed and their contacts are positioned slightly differently, so a battery from the left AirPod will not fit the right one, and vice versa.
Anyone ordering a replacement part should check which side it is designed for. If both batteries are being replaced at a repair shop, the technician needs two different parts, not an identical pair. One earbud also often wears out first — for example, the one used more for calls or for single-ear listening — and it can now be serviced on its own without touching the other.
Removing the battery from the AirPods 5 case
Should you replace the battery yourself?
iFixit believes experienced technicians and even bold enthusiasts can complete the replacement with a decent chance of success. But a decent chance is not a guarantee. It remains delicate work with fingernail-sized parts, and mistakes are easy to make.
The main risks:
- Heat: the adhesive must be softened, but overheating a lithium battery is dangerous.
- Water resistance: once the housing has been opened, factory moisture protection is no longer guaranteed, even after careful reassembly.
- Warranty: opening the earbuds yourself will almost certainly void any warranty you have.
If you are not confident in your skills, the original article recommends taking the earbuds to a repair shop. Independent repair services now have a proper way to replace the battery without sawing open the housing and gluing it back together, which should make results more predictable.
Who benefits when choosing earbuds
For buyers, repairability can now be weighed alongside other factors. According to the original publication’s own comparison, AirPods 5 trail AirPods Pro 3 on battery life: with noise cancellation, AirPods 5 last 4–5 hours versus 8 hours for the Pro 3.
AirPods 5 earbuds in hand
Shorter battery life means wear will be felt sooner, which makes battery replacement especially useful for AirPods 5. Since iFixit rated all previous AirPods at zero, AirPods 5 are currently the only model in the lineup where a worn battery is not a death sentence. The change matters most to people who keep their earbuds for more than two to three years. Those who upgrade with every new release will barely notice, since the battery will not have time to degrade.
A first step, not a revolution
Apple’s move should not be overstated: it is a first step in the right direction rather than a revolution. The original article suggests that European requirements for replaceable batteries in portable devices may have played a role, though this is speculation rather than a confirmed explanation. Whether the same approach will reach future AirPods Pro models remains to be seen.
