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Sg335man

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 13, 2018
45
6
Northwich Cheshire UK
I presume Apple AirPods and there Pro version are planned obsolescence once the battery stops taking charge? Depending usage maybe 2 years or longer. I guess the technology of replacing is possible and I am sure they would offer such a service at pricing outrageous for actual what it cost them. Shame its not a simple install for the enduser?
 

cmaier

Suspended
Jul 25, 2007
25,405
33,471
California
I presume Apple AirPods and there Pro version are planned obsolescence once the battery stops taking charge? Depending usage maybe 2 years or longer. I guess the technology of replacing is possible and I am sure they would offer such a service at pricing outrageous for actual what it cost them. Shame its not a simple install for the enduser?
There would be no possible way to have that form factor and also have a user-replaceable battery.
 

Duncan68

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2018
506
377
Apple makes more money with them being throwaway, so of course replacement batteries "aren't possible in this form factor".
 

Duncan68

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2018
506
377
if you are so good a designer please explain how they could physically make it work?

If Casio can use a replaceable, rechargeable button battery in a G-Shock, Apple has the smarts to figure out how to do it with wireless earphones. They simply don't want to.
 

Prof.

macrumors 603
Aug 17, 2007
5,305
2,016
Chicagoland
I'd imagine you'd pay a small fee and they'd just give you new (refurbished) AirPods...

Unless their official stance is "oh well..." when it comes to battery death.
 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,669
Forces consumerism to remain alive and well despite how unsustainable it is:

1. Two or three years (if you're lucky maybe 5) you have to buy new AirPods.

2. Eventually the latest generation of AirPods will require the latest iOS which might mean buying a newer iPhone.

"Our world is in peril"

~ Captain Planet.
 

V_Man

Cancelled
Aug 1, 2013
654
1,122
if you are so good a designer please explain how they could physically make it work?
I always thought the stem should have a screw-on end section with the battery and maybe the mic also.

Battery get worn. $25 for a new stem.

I would happily pay $50 for a new set batteries every 2 years
 
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ericwn

macrumors G4
Apr 24, 2016
11,831
10,418
I always thought the stem should have a screw-on end section with the battery and maybe the mic also.

Battery get worn. $25 for a new stem.

I would happily pay $50 for a new set batteries every 2 years

That’s a nice idea. For a company specialised on miniature products this should be easy to do.
 
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rdy0329

macrumors 6502a
Mar 20, 2012
574
238
Water/sweat proofing would be null with the screw on stem Idea. Lets wait for the product to reach 3rd or 4th gen, I’m sure Apple is researching the hell out of their best selling product.
 

RecentlyConverted

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2015
880
632
My first gen AirPods batteries have been terrible. One AirPod died after about 4 months, got a replacement, but now one is at 30% when the other reaches empty. My partner has the new Pro AirPods with the older firmware, nice units. Very good, but with the firmware issues and other problems showing up and the inability to change a battery, I am going for the Sony. Small, noise cancelling and changeable batteries.
 
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V_Man

Cancelled
Aug 1, 2013
654
1,122
My first gen AirPods batteries have been terrible. One AirPod died after about 4 months, got a replacement, but now one is at 30% when the other reaches empty. My partner has the new Pro AirPods with the older firmware, nice units. Very good, but with the firmware issues and other problems showing up and the inability to change a battery, I am going for the Sony. Small, noise cancelling and changeable batteries.
If I start to have problems with mine. I’ll probably just return and get pb3 pros. I have the older version with the wire and was happy.
I really am enjoying the APP. Hope they continue without and hiccups. Time will tell I’m sure.
 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,669
I am trying to eke out at least 5 years out of mine. I just got them a little over a week ago. I hear they last 2-3 years but I might be able to squeeze another year or two after that by using 'one pod at a time'. keep one in while the other is charging in the case.

I worry the design will change and I am far more fond of the 'wireless EarPod' design of the AP2 over the Pros. I hope the Pro isn't the new standard as anything 'in' my ears bugs the living crap out of me.
 

rdy0329

macrumors 6502a
Mar 20, 2012
574
238
The bottom of the stem doesn’t need to be sweat proof. Besides that’s why we have o rings.

Again, there are technical challenges with modular designs. One being routing of power and mic input once they make it separate from the main component body. It’s easy to water proof things when it does not involve electronics.
 

V_Man

Cancelled
Aug 1, 2013
654
1,122
Again, there are technical challenges with modular designs. One being routing of power and mic input once they make it separate from the main component body. It’s easy to water proof things when it does not involve electronics.
I never said it would be simple. But this is what apple used to be the best at
 

Brian Y

macrumors 68040
Oct 21, 2012
3,776
1,064
In my experience, it's really not an issue. In both pairs I've owned, the microphone has died long before the battery has!
 

ericwn

macrumors G4
Apr 24, 2016
11,831
10,418
And that’s how Apple has changed over the years. It used to be about the customer.

I can’t remember Apple ever having a set of earphones that were serviceable. Other tan rubber tips maybe. Replaceable batteries were done for them ever since Steve announced iPod and they took that to other product lines afterwards.
 

V_Man

Cancelled
Aug 1, 2013
654
1,122
I can’t remember Apple ever having a set of earphones that were serviceable. Other tan rubber tips maybe. Replaceable batteries were done for them ever since Steve announced iPod and they took that to other product lines afterwards.
Apple never produced BT earphones before the AirPods. Batteries could have been made replaceable if Apple wanted. But more profit in disposable headphones.
 

ericwn

macrumors G4
Apr 24, 2016
11,831
10,418
Apple never produced BT earphones before the AirPods. Batteries could have been made replaceable if Apple wanted. But more profit in disposable headphones.

That’s exactly my point, none of their headphones they made for the last 19 years was serviceable. That hasn’t changed with Bluetooth headphones from the company at all. That cake in Steve’s time and even the in ear premium ones at the time had just replaceable tips if that.
 

V_Man

Cancelled
Aug 1, 2013
654
1,122
That’s exactly my point, none of their headphones they made for the last 19 years was serviceable. That hasn’t changed with Bluetooth headphones from the company at all. That cake in Steve’s time and even the in ear premium ones at the time had just replaceable tips if that.
While I’m agree in principle the difference is BT headphones have a battery. That could be then difference maker for Apple version. $50 set of new batteries and a mic package. Now those $250 pros are $300 but last twice as long.

Not as great for profits. But offering a “Apple way of doing stufff” aka better than others, would be awesome again. But I understand profits trump all Nowadays.
 

MattA

macrumors 6502
May 15, 2006
463
203
Orlando, FL
The batteries in the airpods last about 300 cycles. After 11 months, I was down to 50% capacity, and Apple kindly replaced them for me under warranty. If you use them daily with moderate to heavy use, 1 year is probably all you'll get.

My new ones last about an hour and a half on a call. That's not quite the 2 hours they promise, but my old ones were at 50 minutes.
 
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