iFixit has carried out a teardown of Apple’s AirPods 5, focusing on how repairable the earbuds and charging case are. The repair outlet reports that the earbuds are somewhat easier to service than earlier models, mainly due to a battery design that can be removed more readily.
Across sources, the key change is that the AirPods 5 use pronged batteries that iFixit says are “intuitive to unplug,” with the earbuds opening more easily than the AirPods 3. iFixit also notes practical limits: the left and right earbuds use different batteries with reversed polarity, so the parts cannot be swapped between sides.
Both outlets agree the charging case remains difficult to open without damage. AppleInsider characterizes it as still frustratingly inaccessible even with strong tools, while MacRumors similarly says the case is “still a disaster” to disassemble. iFixit’s reported repairability score rises to 2/10 for the AirPods 5, compared with 0/10 for previous AirPods versions, but both accounts emphasize that the overall repair process still presents significant challenges for typical users.
