AirPods 5 break Apple's decade-long repairability curse with a surprising design twist

For nearly a decade, Apple’s standard AirPods have earned a notorious 0/10 score on repairability metrics, cementing their reputation as “practically disposable” tech once their tiny lithium-ion batteries degrade. But that narrative is finally showing cracks. As detailed in our AirPods 5 review, Apple brought meaningful updates to its open-ear lineup this year, and now under-the-hood inspections reveal another surprise: the earbuds feature batteries that can actually be extracted and replaced.

According to a report from iFixit, the AirPods 5 earned a 2 out of 10 on the repairability scale. While a 2/10 is dismal by modern consumer electronics standards, it marks the highest score ever awarded to an Apple earbud, breaking a ten-year streak of nothing but straight zeroes.

The breakthrough comes down to how the earbud driver enclosure is sealed. Unlike prior AirPods generations that required cutting through plastic or melting internal wiring to reach the battery, with the AirPods 5, applying gentle, controlled heat (even with a household hair dryer) along the driver seam allows the housing to separate cleanly.

Inside, the earbud uses a modular prong-contact battery reminiscent of the AirPods 3, meaning technicians won’t have to solder directly to the cell to swap it out.

However, the batteries are not interchangeable between sides: the left and right earbuds feature reversed polarities and slightly offset prongs, preventing cross-swapping.

Unfortunately, the case tells the exact opposite story for repairability. Getting inside the charging case remains an exercise in destruction, bound tight with stubborn adhesive and plastic welds where screws could easily have lived. Opening the case inevitably ruins the shell, making a DIY battery swap for the case virtually impossible.

Combined with Apple’s complete lack of official spare parts, repair manuals, or self-service options for the lineup, the AirPods 5 remain a far cry from sustainably repairable earbuds like the Fairbuds. Still, moving away from the destructive glue inside the buds is a step in the right direction, even if Apple still has miles to go, with the AirPods 5 getting a measly (yet its highest-ever) 2/10 score.