Brief
iFixit rates Apple AirPods 5 a 2‑out‑of‑10 repairability score
The teardown shows removable earbuds batteries but a hard‑to‑open case, marking the first non‑zero score for the line.
By Felo News Desk · Published
iFixit’s teardown video released on September 29, 2026, gave Apple’s AirPods 5 a repairability rating of 2 out of 10, the first non‑zero score for the product line.
What happened
The teardown revealed that each earbud contains a pronged battery that can be unplugged, allowing removal with common tools after heating the adhesive. The left and right batteries are not interchangeable because of reversed polarity and offset prongs. The charging case, however, proved difficult to open; its tight seams required a rework station and the enclosure was damaged before the battery could be accessed.
What the reports add
iFixit noted that the design improves on AirPods 3, whose casings could not be opened reliably, but is a step back from AirPods 4, which dropped the pronged battery design. The outlet also reported that replacement cells are not yet available and that Apple provides no repair manuals or replacement batteries for the earbuds.
What was said
iFixit’s video narration explained that “a hair dryer on low heat and a clamp were enough to open another bud, though the work still required careful heating and patient prying.”
How it came about
The teardown follows iFixit’s broader Right‑to‑Repair advocacy, highlighted in Felo’s recent coverage of repair‑community initiatives in Europe.
Key facts
- iFixit gave AirPods 5 a repairability score of 2 out of 10. (iclarified.com)
- Each earbud’s battery can be removed using a pronged connector after heating. (iclarified.com)
- The charging case is difficult to open and was damaged before the battery could be reached. (iclarified.com)
- Replacement battery cells are not yet available. (iclarified.com)
- Apple offers no repair manuals or replacement batteries for AirPods 5. (iclarified.com)
Sources
- [1] iclarified.com — originally reported as “AirPods 5 Earn 2/10 Repairability Score in iFixit Teardown [Video]”
