The well-known repair website iFixit today published one of Apple's established teardown videos, this time for the new AirPods 5. The analysis shows that the new headphones are somewhat easier to repair than previous models, without this meaning that the process can be easily done at home.
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The AirPods 5 feature batteries with terminals, similar to those used in the AirPods 3, while they were absent from the AirPods 4. According to iFixit, the battery can be removed using a special tool, while disconnecting it from the inside of the earphone is relatively simple.
In the AirPods 3, accessing the inside of the earphones was particularly difficult, despite using this type of battery. However, in the AirPods 5, the process has improved, as iFixit was able to open the earphones by heating the glue with a blowtorch and using a clamp to hold them firmly in place.
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It's worth noting that the left and right earbuds use different types of batteries, with reversed polarity. Therefore, the battery in the left AirPod cannot be inserted into the right one and vice versa.
While the headphones themselves have improved in terms of repairability, the charging case is still a major issue. iFixit describes it as particularly difficult to disassemble, as accessing its interior is likely to cause damage.
Overall, iFixit rated the AirPods 5 with a 2/10 repairability score, an improvement over the previous models, which received a 0/10. The website estimates that experienced technicians, as well as fairly familiar users attempting repairs on their own, can replace the AirPods 5 batteries with a relatively good chance of success.
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Despite this small improvement, repairing AirPods 5 still requires care, proper tools, and technical experience, especially in the case of the charging case.
