iFixit’s teardown of the AirPods 5 reveals the first significant step towards easier repairs, featuring removable batteries, though overall access remains limited and challenging.
iFixit has identified the first meaningful improvement in Apple’s AirPods repairability, after tearing down the new AirPods 5 and finding that their batteries can now be removed and replaced without destroying the earbuds. The shift is modest, but it is still notable for a product line that has long been regarded as effectively sealed shut. iFixit awarded the AirPods 5 a repairability score of 2 out of 10, the first time any AirPods model has risen above zero. According to MacRumors and 9to5Mac, the change centres on removable pronged batteries inside each earbud, which marks a clear departure from earlier models that were far harder to service.
That improvement does not extend very far. iFixit said the left and right batteries are not interchangeable because they use different polarity and slightly different contact layouts, which means replacement still requires care and some technical skill. The organisation also found that accessing other internal parts remains destructive, while the charging case is still extremely difficult to open without damage. 9to5Mac described the case as “still a disaster”, a judgment that reflects how limited the practical repair gains remain despite the battery redesign.
The AirPods line has long been a poor performer on repairability. iFixit has repeatedly given previous generations a score of 0 out of 10, citing heavy use of adhesive, soldered connections and tightly assembled housings that make safe disassembly almost impossible. The latest teardown suggests Apple has made a small concession to repair, but only at the battery level and only for people with the tools and patience to attempt it. In that sense, the AirPods 5 appear less like a redesign for easy maintenance than a cautious first step away from a device category that has traditionally been treated as disposable.
iFixit’s guide also notes that the AirPods 5 come in two variants, including a base version without wireless charging and a higher-end model with wireless charging and swipe-based volume control. Its teardown images, including CT scans, show just how densely Apple has packed the batteries, MEMS microphones, H2 chip and other components into the small plastic shells. That tight internal layout helps explain why the battery is now replaceable yet the rest of the product remains so difficult to service.
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