AirPods 5 Finally Break Apple’s 0/10 Repairability Streak With 2/10 Score

Apple’s AirPods 5 have become the first generation of the company’s wireless earbuds to receive more than zero points in iFixit’s repairability testing, marking a small but notable improvement for a product line historically considered extremely difficult to repair.

Following a teardown of Apple’s latest earbuds, iFixit awarded the AirPods 5 a 2 out of 10 repairability score.

That remains a very poor score overall.

But it ends roughly a decade in which previous AirPods generations repeatedly received 0/10 ratings from the independent repair organisation.

The main reason for the improvement is the design of the batteries inside the individual earbuds.

AirPods 5 return to a pronged battery connection that can be disconnected once the earbud has been successfully opened, rather than relying on a more difficult electrical attachment.

The redesign means battery replacement is now at least realistically possible for skilled technicians.

However, AirPods 5 are still far from being conventionally repairable.

iFixit Gives AirPods 5 a 2/10

iFixit’s teardown resulted in a final score of:

2/10

for repairability.

That is the highest score iFixit has awarded to an AirPods earbud generation.

For context, the original AirPods famously received a 0/10 score, with iFixit finding extensive adhesive and effectively destructive access to several components.

The AirPods 5 therefore represent progress, but a score of 2 still places them near the bottom of the repairability scale.

Consumers should not interpret the result as meaning that AirPods have suddenly become easy to repair at home.

What Changed Inside AirPods 5?

The biggest change involves the battery connection.

iFixit found that Apple returned to a battery with metal prongs, a concept it had previously seen in AirPods 3.

Once the AirPods 5 battery is exposed, those contacts allow it to be disconnected without desoldering tiny wires.

The teardown team was also able to separate the upper part of the earbud more cleanly than on previous designs.

That combination is what makes battery servicing considerably more realistic.

The challenge is getting to the battery in the first place.

Opening an AirPod Is Still Difficult

Apple has not turned AirPods 5 into a product that simply opens with screws.

The earbuds remain bonded together with adhesive.

Repairing one requires heating the housing carefully to soften the glue and then separating the enclosure without damaging the tiny plastic structure or components inside.

MacRumors, reporting on the teardown, notes that iFixit successfully used a hair dryer and clamp to gain access to the earbuds, although the process still required care and patience.

This is significantly different from replacing a smartphone battery by removing a back panel and several screws.

The margin for error remains small.

Battery Replacement Is the Key Improvement

Battery degradation is particularly important for true wireless earbuds.

The batteries inside earbuds are extremely small and go through repeated charging cycles.

As they age, users may notice:

• Shorter listening time
• Uneven battery life between the left and right earbuds
• Unexpected shutdowns
• More frequent charging
• Difficulty holding a full charge

Historically, poor repairability meant that a degraded battery could effectively determine the usable lifespan of an otherwise functional pair of AirPods.

Making battery replacement more feasible could therefore help some AirPods 5 remain usable for longer.

Left and Right AirPods Use Different Batteries

There is an unusual complication.

The AirPods 5 battery installed in the left earbud cannot simply be moved into the right earbud.

iFixit found that the batteries have reversed polarity and slightly different physical positioning of their contacts.

That means replacement batteries will need to match the specific side being repaired.

This does not appear to be software parts pairing.

It is a physical difference between the two battery configurations.

For repair shops, that means keeping track of left- and right-side replacement parts would be necessary once compatible batteries become commercially available.

Replacement Batteries Are Not Yet Readily Available

A repairable design only becomes genuinely useful when replacement components can be obtained.

That remains one of the AirPods 5’s biggest problems.

At the time of iFixit’s teardown, compatible replacement batteries were not yet widely available.

Apple also does not currently offer an AirPods 5 repair path through its Self Service Repair programme.

This means the improved hardware design does not yet come with the complete repair ecosystem that would make battery replacement straightforward for consumers.

Apple Does Not Provide AirPods 5 Repair Manuals

Repairability involves more than whether a device can physically be taken apart.

A complete repair ecosystem normally includes:

• Replacement parts
• Service documentation
• Suitable tools
• Disassembly procedures
• Reassembly instructions
• Diagnostic support

iFixit says Apple currently provides neither replacement AirPods 5 parts nor repair manuals through Self Service Repair.

That is one reason the score remains only 2/10 despite the battery improvement.

Charging Case Remains Extremely Difficult to Repair

The biggest remaining weakness is the charging case.

According to iFixit, gaining access to the case battery still requires aggressive disassembly.

During its teardown, the organisation was unable to reach the battery without effectively destroying the case, and it found plastic welds where more repair-friendly fasteners such as screws could have been used.

That means the most repairable part of the AirPods 5 package is now the individual earbud battery — not the entire product.

If the charging case battery fails, repair remains considerably more difficult.

Why the Case Matters

The charging case contains its own battery and serves several essential functions.

It:

• Recharges the earbuds
• Stores and protects them
• Provides USB-C charging
• Supports wireless charging on the higher model
• Extends total listening time

Apple offers two AirPods 5 configurations.

The standard model uses a USB-C charging case, while the higher-priced version adds wireless charging via Qi and Apple Watch chargers as well as a Find My speaker.

If the case battery becomes unusable, the earbuds can become significantly less practical even if their individual batteries remain healthy.

AirPods 5 Come in Two Versions

Apple introduced AirPods 5 on September 9, 2026.

The standard AirPods 5 cost $129 in the United States, while AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149. Sales began on September 18.

Both models include Active Noise Cancellation.

The more expensive version adds wireless charging, longer battery life and volume adjustment using a swipe gesture on the stem.

The repairability improvement applies to the AirPods earbuds themselves regardless of which charging-case option buyers choose.

AirPods 5 Use Apple’s H2 Chip

Apple lists the H2 headphone chip at the centre of the AirPods 5.

The earbuds support features including:

• Active Noise Cancellation
• Adaptive Audio
• Transparency
• Conversation Awareness
• Voice Isolation
• Personalized Spatial Audio
• Adaptive EQ
• Live Translation

They also include multiple microphones and sensors for voice, sound processing and in-ear detection.

The technology packed into such a small housing helps explain some of the engineering challenge behind making wireless earbuds repairable.

But miniaturisation does not necessarily require every component to be permanently inaccessible.

Apple Claims Stronger Noise Cancellation

Apple markets AirPods 5 as offering improved Active Noise Cancellation in its open-ear design.

The company says the new model removes up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.

That figure is an Apple performance claim rather than an independent repairability finding.

It does not affect the iFixit score directly.

Repairability measures how practical it is to maintain and restore a product when components fail, rather than how well the product performs when new.

AirPods 5 Are IP57 Rated

Durability has also improved.

Apple rates AirPods 5 as IP57 dust, sweat and water resistant.

That represents protection against dust ingress and temporary water exposure under specified test conditions.

Durability and repairability are related but different concepts.

A more durable product may fail less frequently, while a repairable product can be restored more easily when failure eventually occurs.

Ideally, consumer electronics should offer both.

Battery Life Reaches Up to Seven Hours

Battery performance differs slightly between the two AirPods 5 packages.

Apple says standard AirPods 5 provide up to:

6 hours with noise control off

or

4 hours with Active Noise Cancellation enabled.

The Wireless Charging Case version is rated for up to:

7 hours with noise control off

or

5 hours with ANC enabled.

Total listening time with the case can reach up to 22 hours with ANC for the wireless-charging model.

Those specifications make long-term battery health particularly important because battery capacity directly determines how useful the earbuds remain.

Why Tiny Earbuds Are Difficult to Repair

True wireless earbuds present an unusual engineering problem.

Manufacturers want them to be:

• Extremely small
• Lightweight
• Water resistant
• Comfortable
• Structurally strong
• Packed with electronics

These requirements encourage manufacturers to use adhesives and densely packed components.

But that same approach can make disassembly extremely difficult.

A repair-friendly product needs access points that can later be reopened without destroying the device.

AirPods 5 appear to move slightly in that direction around the earbud battery while leaving much of the overall design unchanged.

A 2/10 Score Is Still Very Low

The phrase “breaks Apple’s 0/10 streak” sounds dramatic.

Technically, it is true in the context of iFixit’s scoring.

But consumers should keep the scale in perspective.

Moving from:

0/10

to

2/10

does not turn AirPods into an easily repairable product.

It means one particularly important repair — replacing an aging earbud battery — has become more feasible.

The case remains difficult to open, Apple does not provide DIY parts or documentation, and opening the earbuds still involves heat, adhesive and delicate work.

The Score Is From iFixit, Not Apple

Another important clarification is that Apple has not officially rated AirPods 5 as 2/10 for repairability.

The score comes from iFixit.

iFixit independently tears products down and evaluates how easily components can be replaced and whether manufacturers provide parts, documentation and other support.

Its scoring system runs from zero for the least repairable products to 10 for the easiest to repair.

The 2/10 figure should therefore always be described as an iFixit repairability rating.

Apple’s Official AirPods Announcement Did Not Highlight Repairability

Interestingly, Apple’s AirPods 5 announcement focused on audio performance, ANC, Siri AI, Live Translation, durability and battery life.

Apple did not identify easier battery replacement as a headline feature in its launch announcement.

The repairability change became apparent only after third-party teardown analysis.

That makes it a useful example of why hardware teardowns can reveal design changes that manufacturers do not emphasise in product marketing.

Does This Mean Users Should Repair AirPods at Home?

For most users, probably not.

The improved design means DIY repair is more plausible than before, but opening AirPods still involves:

• Heating adhesive
• Holding the tiny enclosure securely
• Delicate prying
• Removing internal adhesive
• Installing the correct battery
• Reassembling and resealing the housing

A mistake could damage the enclosure, driver, microphones or other internal components.

Users without electronics-repair experience may therefore still prefer a professional technician once parts become available.

Could AirPods 5 Last Longer?

Potentially.

If batteries can be replaced successfully, users may be able to extend the working life of earbuds that would previously have been discarded after battery degradation.

That has implications both for cost and electronic waste.

However, long-term repairability will depend on whether suitable replacement batteries become widely available and whether repair professionals develop reliable procedures.

The hardware change creates the possibility.

It does not guarantee a complete repair market.

What Apple Would Need to Do to Improve Further

AirPods could receive substantially stronger repairability scores if future designs address several remaining barriers.

Those could include:

A serviceable charging case

The case should ideally open without destructive cutting.

Replacement parts

Consumers and independent technicians need access to compatible batteries and components.

Repair manuals

Official instructions would reduce uncertainty and repair risk.

Less permanent assembly

Screws or reusable clips could replace some welded or strongly bonded sections.

Consistent replacement components

Standardised batteries could make servicing easier.

AirPods 5 solve only part of that broader problem.

AirPods 5 vs Previous AirPods Repairability

The generational change can be summarised simply:

The difference therefore comes primarily from improved access to the battery inside each AirPod.

Why This Matters Beyond AirPods

Wireless earbuds are increasingly treated as semi-disposable consumer electronics because their tiny batteries naturally degrade while repair costs can approach the value of replacing the product.

AirPods are among the most prominent products in this category.

Even a small repairability improvement from Apple could therefore influence expectations across the wider wireless-earbud industry.

Consumers increasingly expect expensive electronics to remain usable beyond the original battery’s lifespan.

Important Clarification About the Headline

The statement that AirPods 5 “finally break Apple’s 0/10 repairability streak” is accurate only when referring specifically to iFixit’s AirPods scoring history.

It does not mean:

• Apple previously officially rated its AirPods 0/10.
• AirPods 5 are now easy to repair.
• Apple officially supports home battery replacement.
• The charging case is repairable.
• Replacement batteries are readily available everywhere.

The correct takeaway is narrower:

iFixit found that AirPods 5 are the most repairable AirPods earbuds it has tested so far, primarily because the batteries can now be removed more realistically.

Bottom Line

Apple’s AirPods 5 have earned a 2/10 repairability score from iFixit, ending the independent repair organisation’s decade-long sequence of zero ratings for AirPods.

The improvement comes mainly from the earbuds’ pronged battery connections and cleaner opening process, which give trained technicians a more realistic chance of replacing batteries after they degrade.

But AirPods 5 remain difficult to repair.

The charging case still requires destructive disassembly to reach its battery, replacement components are not yet broadly available, and Apple’s Self Service Repair programme does not provide AirPods 5 parts or manuals.

Apple officially sells AirPods 5 for $129, while the Wireless Charging Case version costs $149. Both use the H2 chip, include Active Noise Cancellation and carry an IP57 durability rating.

So the biggest story is not that Apple has suddenly created repairable earbuds.

It is that for the first time, one of the most failure-prone components inside regular AirPods — the tiny battery — can potentially be replaced without destroying the earbud itself.

That is meaningful progress, even if a 2/10 score shows Apple still has a long way to go.