AirPods Pro use custom silicone ear-tip, basically non-repairable
As it does with every Apple product launch, iFixit has completed its tear-down of the AirPods Pro, and have found that it is still essentially not user repairable at all.
AirPods Pro initial disassembly, photo courtesy iFixit
The silicone ear inserts on the AirPods Pro use a custom attach point, meaning that ear inserts from other devices cannot easily be used on the AirPods Pro. However, Apple's "fancy engineering" provides a larger opening for sound than is normally seen in an earbud, according to iFixit's teardown.
Apple's engineering choices including solder and glue are intended to keep the product as small and as light as possible. However, in an interesting design choice, the iPods Pro earpieces use a cell-style rechargeable battery. It is theoretically replaceable -- but it is soldered to the contacts.
Theoretically replaceable coin battery in AirPods Pro, photo courtesy iFixit
That assembly is connected with a ribbon cable with a zero-insertion-force (ZIF) connector to the stem. The electronics in the stem don't just slide out, though, and require the bottom to be cut off the stem for release.
Stem electronics in the AirPods Pro - photo courtesy iFixit
The battery case is very similar to the previous generation, and uses many of the same chips. The Lightning port is modular, and can also theoretically be replaced, assuming you can find a replacement part to do so.
Apple's existing service policies are to replace broken AirPods Pro ear pieces and charging cases in the store. It has never been clear what Apple does with units from customers that it swaps out -- iFixit believes that the new units are "potentially be a tiny bit more repairable" but not by consumers. It theorizes that Apple could potentially repair broken AirPods Pro or the Charging Case by replacing the in-ear portion with a re-use of the stem electronics, given the ZIF socket and modular nature of that component.
Exploded view of iPods Pro and Charging Case - photo courtesy iFixit
For the consumer, iFixit has given the AirPods Pro a 0 out of 10 repairability score -- which is no surprise.
After weeks of speculation, Apple announced AirPods Pro on Monday, featuring Active Noise Cancellation and improved sound. The $249 earbuds rely heavily on Apple's H1 chip, with the company saying that the extremely low audio processing latency of H1 enables real-time noise cancellation, delivers high-quality sound using adaptive technology, and responds to hands-free "Hey Siri" requests -- all simultaneously.
AirPods Pro initial disassembly, photo courtesy iFixit
The silicone ear inserts on the AirPods Pro use a custom attach point, meaning that ear inserts from other devices cannot easily be used on the AirPods Pro. However, Apple's "fancy engineering" provides a larger opening for sound than is normally seen in an earbud, according to iFixit's teardown.
Apple's engineering choices including solder and glue are intended to keep the product as small and as light as possible. However, in an interesting design choice, the iPods Pro earpieces use a cell-style rechargeable battery. It is theoretically replaceable -- but it is soldered to the contacts.
Theoretically replaceable coin battery in AirPods Pro, photo courtesy iFixit
That assembly is connected with a ribbon cable with a zero-insertion-force (ZIF) connector to the stem. The electronics in the stem don't just slide out, though, and require the bottom to be cut off the stem for release.
Stem electronics in the AirPods Pro - photo courtesy iFixit
The battery case is very similar to the previous generation, and uses many of the same chips. The Lightning port is modular, and can also theoretically be replaced, assuming you can find a replacement part to do so.
Apple's existing service policies are to replace broken AirPods Pro ear pieces and charging cases in the store. It has never been clear what Apple does with units from customers that it swaps out -- iFixit believes that the new units are "potentially be a tiny bit more repairable" but not by consumers. It theorizes that Apple could potentially repair broken AirPods Pro or the Charging Case by replacing the in-ear portion with a re-use of the stem electronics, given the ZIF socket and modular nature of that component.
Exploded view of iPods Pro and Charging Case - photo courtesy iFixit
For the consumer, iFixit has given the AirPods Pro a 0 out of 10 repairability score -- which is no surprise.
After weeks of speculation, Apple announced AirPods Pro on Monday, featuring Active Noise Cancellation and improved sound. The $249 earbuds rely heavily on Apple's H1 chip, with the company saying that the extremely low audio processing latency of H1 enables real-time noise cancellation, delivers high-quality sound using adaptive technology, and responds to hands-free "Hey Siri" requests -- all simultaneously.
Comments
Because otherwise users regularly repair their other bluetooth earphones?
Ifixit exists for clicks... Kinda like ...
ive used ifixit many times to repair complex devices, many Apple products, and they do a great service. They have a bit of editorial opinion about repairability, but given their passion for helping people repair, it doesn’t seem out of place.
As others have stated, why does a repairablity score matter. I’d love to know what percentage of people, ever, has tried to repair their Bluetooth headphones. What would the score be on the headphones that Sony supplied with my Walkman? I mean, sure, they could be taped up a bit but I wouldn’t really consider that “fixed”.
Are we to read the dangling modifier headline to mean that the ear tips aren't repairable, or that the AirPods Pro (and yes, that is how Apple named them) aren't?
If the former, then it's wrong: you can get new silicone tips from Apple for $4. Or for the latter, well that's hardly news. As others have already pointed out, microelectronic devices like these are virtually never repairable.
To hell with these worthless right-to-repair nutjobs. I don't want worse products just so some cheap asshole can repair them poorly.
"AirPods Pro" is the correct pluralization of "AirPod Pro", meaning there are two "AirPods" rather than two "Pros". This construction in English is consistent with other examples such as "Attorneys General".
I used them to replace the batteries on two old 64GB iPhone 4S's. Battery-Kit with tools: $17. Battery: $14. Revived two ancient devices from a drawer, added $6 amazon rubber cases, and now they're iPods for our 4-year-old.
I've used it to replace the harddrive->SSD & RAM & system-battery on 2007/2008 iMacs. Every screw, size, location, wire-clip, EVERYthing.
Plus comments from users DOING the procedures? Great.
The iMac idea was to gain confidence to put a 2TB SSD into my 2009 27" iMac, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.
It's our primary home machine, and if I accidentally kill it, it's new iMac time.
When I browse Craigslist for old iMacs & Mini's, I use everymac to make sure it can run El Cap, then iFixit to see about upgrades should I buy.
If you search iFixit for "2006 Dodge Caravan Brakes" I uploaded instructions for doing pads & rotors.
Kind of pay-it-forward. A buddy of mine showed me on two cars how to do the easy job, and I wanted to help others, which it has.
iFixit it started with mac stuff, now they seem to really want to repair the world.
I think they even had a step-by-step on peeling a banana or something, so they have a sense of fun too.
Happy Halloween all.
E.
I was going to make a snarky comment about how everyone gets this, then I thought about it and realized that, no, plenty of people probably don't.
That being said, I try a Lot of earbuds and headphones, and the rubber tips on these Pros are the best fitting tips I've ever experienced, so what I said above may not even matter.
While I would like a cheaper battery service (who wouldn't) or user serviceable, the reality is there are compromises in all designs. These are small, light, and water resistant. That comes at the cost of being user serviceable. Such is life.