AirPods 5 Earn 2/10 Repairability Score in iFixit Teardown [Video]

AirPods 5 earned a 2 out of 10 repairability score from iFixit, the first nonzero mark in the AirPods lineup. The earbuds' batteries can be removed with common tools, while the charging case remains far harder to service.

The repairability gain comes from a pronged battery inside each earbud that unplugs rather than relying on soldered leads. AirPods 3 used a similar design, but their casings could not be opened reliably without damage; AirPods 4 dropped the prongs. This time, both buds opened cleanly around the driver, and their batteries lifted out after the adhesive was removed.

A hair dryer on low heat and a clamp were enough to open another bud, though the work still required careful heating and patient prying. An earlier attempt through the stem melted the plastic.

The left and right batteries are not interchangeable: their polarity is reversed and their prongs sit slightly off-center. Replacement cells are not yet available, and buyers will need to choose the correct side when they reach the market.

The charging case was less cooperative. Its tight seams resisted opening even with a rework station, and the enclosure was destroyed before the battery could be reached. Inside, plastic welds stood where screws might have made disassembly easier.

Apple offers no replacement batteries or repair manuals for the earbuds, and its Self Service Repair program provides no repair path for them.

AirPods 5 are available on Amazon with a standard charging case or a wireless charging case. Check our AirPods price tracker for current retailer pricing.