Apple's AirPods 5 introduce a modest but notable change: the earbud batteries are now user-replaceable. According to The Register, this shift lifted iFixit's repairability score from zero to two out of ten. While still a low score, it marks a departure from previous AirPods models, which were effectively disposable once the battery degraded.
The replaceable batteries address one of the most common failure points in wireless earbuds. However, the rest of the device remains challenging to repair. The Register notes that the charging case and other internal components are still glued or soldered, keeping the overall repairability rating low. iFixit's teardown found that while the battery swap is an improvement, it does not fundamentally change the product's repair-friendly status.
The source does not mention any other changes to the AirPods 5, such as audio quality or software features. The focus is solely on the repairability shift, which, while incremental, could matter to consumers concerned about e-waste and long-term ownership. As The Register's headline puts it, Apple has made the AirPods 5 "slightly less hostile to repair."