AirPods Pro headphones are virtually unrepairable due to the silicone in-ear

After several weeks of rumors, Apple recently introduced AirPods Pro headphones, which offered active noise cancellation and enhanced sound. Their cost is $ 249, it is based on the Apple H1 chip, and the company claims that the extremely low H1 audio processing delay provides real-time noise reduction, high-quality sound using adaptive technology and support for Siri’s voice calls.

As with every significant launch of Apple products, iFixit experts disassembled AirPods Pro and found that the headphones were still not user-repairable (and for specialists this would also not be completely trivial task).

Initial disassembly of AirPods Pro, iFixit

Initial disassembly of AirPods Pro, iFixit

Silicone earplugs on AirPods Pro use special hardware, so you cannot use earplugs from other devices on AirPods Pro. However, according to iFixit disassembly, Apple’s unusual design provides a wider hole for sound than conventional in-ear headphones.

Apple’s engineering solutions, including solder and glue, are designed to make the product as small and light as possible. However, the ambiguous design features of the AirPods Pro headphones include the battery – although it is theoretically replaceable, it is not easy to do this because it is soldered to the contacts.

Theoretically replaceable battery in AirPods Pro, iFixit

The theoretically replaceable battery in AirPods Pro, iFixit

This node is connected by a loop through the ZIF connector (zero-insertion-force) to the main part of the case. Electronics, however, cannot simply be removed – it is required that the base be cut off.

Electronics box in AirPods Pro, iFixit

Electronics box in AirPods Pro, iFixit

The storage case with its own battery is very similar to the previous generation and uses many of the same chips. The Lightning port is modular and can theoretically be replaced, provided that the user can find a spare part. In general, for consumers, iFixit rated AirPods Pro a maintainability rating of 0 out of 10, which was expected.

AirPods Pro headphones are virtually unrepairable due to the silicone in-ear
Apple’s existing service policy provides for the replacement of broken AirPods Pro headphones and in-store charging cases. It is not known what Apple does with broken copies received from customers – iFixit believes that the new headphones can potentially be slightly more maintainable, but not consumers. It is suggested that Apple can fix a broken AirPods Pro or charging case, replacing some parts, given the use of the ZIF connector and the modular nature of this component.

Disassembled AirPods Pro earphones and charging case, iFixit

Disassembled AirPods Pro earphones and charging case, iFixit