AirPods Pro 3 Impossible to Repair, Earn Score of 0 in iFixit Teardown

[MacRumors]

iFixit today disassembled the AirPods Pro 3, giving us a look at what's inside and how the AirPods Pro 3 have changed in comparison to the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple designed the AirPods Pro 3 with a new foam-infused tip, and the design change is mainly visible under a microscope. You can see a small layer of foam at the top of the earbud where it meets the ear.

The AirPods have a 0.221 Wh battery cell inside, while the case has a single 1.334 Wh battery. The AirPods Pro 2 had two battery cells inside the case, and the change explains why we're down to 24 hours of battery life from the case instead of 30 hours like the AirPods Pro 2.

The case has fewer rare earth magnets inside, but they've been placed in different locations to ensure that MagSafe and Qi 2 charging still works as expected.

To get a look at other components inside the AirPods Pro 3, iFixit essentially had to destroy them because Apple didn't design them to be repaired.

Since the first version of the AirPods launched, they've included a battery that is sealed shut with glue, and that hasn't changed with the AirPods Pro 3. iFixit says battery replacements are so difficult that many repair shops won't even attempt to do it. The AirPods Pro Charging Case has the same glued-in battery.

There's no way to attempt a battery repair without causing blemishes on the plastic of the earbuds and the casing, because they have to be pried open. Heat needs to be used to melt the adhesive, and there's no easy way to disconnect the flex cable that's inside each earbud.

With the need for specialized equipment and the inability to repair the earbuds and the case without causing damage, the AirPods Pro 3 earned a 0 out of 10 repairability score from iFixit.


Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Impossible to Repair, Earn Score of 0 in iFixit Teardown

 

[JPack]

You already know the EU will put an end to this. It's nuts that even the case is non-serviceable.

 

[Phogro]

Very much expected this outcome. Airpods are basically consumable devices and once the battery runs out it's time for the next set.

 

[aggravated_raspberry]

So all AirPods basically become landfill unless they’re passed on/re-sold? Yikes.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Has anyone ever guessed at the margin Apple has on these? I find it hard to imagine that they even cost Apple $20, but they charge over $200.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

So all AirPods basically become landfill unless they’re passed on/re-sold? Yikes.

I'm curious how many people actually throw electronics away. Don't they just end up in a junk drawer?

 

[Xade]

What will Mother Nature say??? Ah, but that was another year's virtue signalling. Eco friendly is why you don't get a charger in your 2K iphone box, honest!

 

[ZipZilla]

So all AirPods basically become landfill unless they’re passed on/re-sold? Yikes.

Always been that way. I don't know that it's ever been realistic to replace the battery in any wireless earbuds

 

[boswald]

I still love them. 🤷‍♂️

 

[JPack]

Has anyone ever guessed at the margin Apple has on these? I find it hard to imagine that they even cost Apple $20, but they charge over $200.

80%. BOM is $51. The margin has probably improved now due to even higher economies of scale. It's a really outstanding source of recurring revenue for Apple.

https://electronics360.globalspec.com/article/14978/teardown-apple-airpods-pro-with-charging-case

 

[racerhomie]

Has anyone ever guessed at the margin Apple has on these? I find it hard to imagine that they even cost Apple $20, but they charge over $200.

30-36% across Apples Product line

 

[Jamie0003]

This is the one thing that’s putting me off replacing my aging AirPod pro 1’s, and I wish Apple would face more scrutiny for this.

I just can’t justify spending £220 every 4 years or so on headphones, not only is it a colossal waste of money but so bad for the envirnoment

Waiting for AirPod max 2’s, since at least with them you can repair yourself

 

[fenderbass146]

So all AirPods basically become landfill unless they’re passed on/re-sold? Yikes.

I mean...isn't that everything.

 

[daemondust]

Repairability adds bulk. Apple isn't doing this to make money on replacements. They're doing it to improve water resistance, and have more space for battery and other components.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I'm curious how many people actually throw electronics away. Don't they just end up in a junk drawer?

I recycle tech that is no longer useful, or give it someone who can use it. I don't like keeping old tech around if it's not being actively used. Too much clutter.

 

[jimjiminyjim]

But to be fair, I put my AirPods Pro 2 and case through the washing machine at least five times, and they still work... so all that irreparable adhesive did actually have a very positive effect in my case. Most of my tech ends up in a junk drawer.

 

[decypher44]

Unrelated: Why couldn’t they have made some of the APP 3s in Cosmic Orange?? That would have been a buy from me, even though I already have the 2s.

 

[Shah!n]

When you have such a complex and miniaturized technology in a small device, this will happen.

 

[racerhomie]

But to be fair, I put my AirPods Pro 2 and case through the washing machine at least five times, and they still work... so all that irreparable adhesive did actually have a very positive effect in my case. Most of my tech ends up in a junk drawer.

That’s what John Ternus was explaining in an interview. He was right!

 

[cjsuk]

Has anyone ever guessed at the margin Apple has on these? I find it hard to imagine that they even cost Apple $20, but they charge over $200.

The calculations for this stuff always misses a number of key things to make it look like the company is ripping you off:

1. Development cost.
2. Supply chain and bring up costs.
3. Post manufacturing distribution costs.
4. The software engineering costs.
5. The QA and testing costs.
6. Long term maintenance and spares support.

I've seen products which had a $20 BOM and $100 on the above and the company was making $30.

 

[roklanhavok]

People throw out 18 gazillion water bottles a day, but those AirPods! How dare Apple not let eco-hippies go to their workbench and change all the parts! What about mother nature! They should weave their old AirPods into their macrame.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

I'd like to see how e-waste companies recycle these. Do they just crush them and then somehow sort out the salvegable materials? Or are they even recyclable?

 

[BigMcGuire]

I've been using AirPods since they came out. I use them all day for work and personal. After a few years I'm usually in the market to upgrade for new features and battery longevity reasons ( I exercise in them too ) - and Apple has always taken my old pairs and recycled them. The newer versions are lasting a lot longer than the old ones used to (way past the 2 year mark).

 

[iFishishh]

TLDR:
-Apple's new APP 3's score a 0 out of 10 in repairability
-Have noticeable foam infused within the tip (if viewed under a microscope)
-New case although bigger, has a smaller battery and less rare earth magnets than previous models
-Despite these shortcomings, it will still cost the same as previous models

 

[idahohand]

80%. BOM is $51. The margin has probably improved now due to even higher economies of scale. It's a really outstanding source of recurring revenue for Apple.

https://electronics360.globalspec.com/article/14978/teardown-apple-airpods-pro-with-charging-case

Have you ever looked at the amount of R&D that Apple invests in all of their products? That budget has been over $15-20B a year as long as I can remember. Material cost is what commodity manufacturers use the base their prices. The companies doing the actual engineering behind the technology have to account for that as well.