AirPods: Difference between revisions
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==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
=== Repairability === | ===Repairability=== | ||
==== Obsolescense ==== | ====Obsolescense==== | ||
AirPods are designed in a way that makes them unrepairable, leading to customers having to buy a new pair after a few years of use. Apple can replace them but will not repair them or help you do it yourself.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Dalvin |date=20 Apr 2023 |title=Apple Doesn’t Repair AirPods. Here’s Why. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omMPJEoZGJE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=omMPJEoZGJE |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Youtube |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> According to an expert from iFixit:<blockquote>If you want to take this apart, non-destructively, to replace the batteries, as far as I know, that's impossible.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>The rechargeable batteries in AirPods can experience fast-tracked degradation after a certain number of battery cycles,<ref name=":1" /> with two-year-old sets lasting for less than half of the advertised five hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elalj |first=Simo |date=2024-04-16 |title=How Long Do AirPods Last? (Battery & Lifespan) |url=https://www.refurb.me/blog/how-long-do-airpods-last-battery-lifespan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723215441/https://www.refurb.me/blog/how-long-do-airpods-last-battery-lifespan |archive-date=2025-07-23 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=RefurbMe}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Apple Service and Repair for AirPods |url=https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair?services=service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260220050147/https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair?services=service |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Apple}}</ref> | AirPods are designed in a way that makes them unrepairable, leading to customers having to buy a new pair after a few years of use. Apple can replace them but will not repair them or help you do it yourself.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Dalvin |date=20 Apr 2023 |title=Apple Doesn’t Repair AirPods. Here’s Why. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omMPJEoZGJE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=omMPJEoZGJE |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Youtube |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> According to an expert from iFixit:<blockquote>If you want to take this apart, non-destructively, to replace the batteries, as far as I know, that's impossible.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>The rechargeable batteries in AirPods can experience fast-tracked degradation after a certain number of battery cycles,<ref name=":1" /> with two-year-old sets lasting for less than half of the advertised five hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elalj |first=Simo |date=2024-04-16 |title=How Long Do AirPods Last? (Battery & Lifespan) |url=https://www.refurb.me/blog/how-long-do-airpods-last-battery-lifespan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723215441/https://www.refurb.me/blog/how-long-do-airpods-last-battery-lifespan |archive-date=2025-07-23 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=RefurbMe}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Apple Service and Repair for AirPods |url=https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair?services=service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260220050147/https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair?services=service |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Apple}}</ref> | ||
==== Replacement over repair ==== | ====Replacement over repair==== | ||
[[File:Airpods-pro-3-carepricecomparison.png|alt=an image depicting the price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.|thumb|Price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.]] | [[File:Airpods-pro-3-carepricecomparison.png|alt=an image depicting the price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.|thumb|Price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.]] | ||
Apple has a dedicated portal to | Apple has a dedicated portal to purchase "battery service", which involves destroying outer parts,<ref name=":1" /> and replacements individual AirPods and charging cases. The replacement of one or both AirPods or the charging case has a lower price with AppleCare+ than without. Apple offers battery servicing for free with AppleCare+ and for a fee without.<ref name=":2" />{{Citation needed|reason=Add 3rd party citation|date=4 Apr 2026}} | ||
=== Freedom === | ===Freedom=== | ||
==== Proprietary standards ==== | ====Proprietary standards==== | ||
Up until September 22, 2023, Apple used their proprietary Lightning connector on the AirPods' charging case, which forced the consumer to purchase Apple-licensed chargers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borresen |first=Jennifer |date=22 Sep 2023 |title=iPhone 15 pro uses USB-C charger: An exploration of how Apple got here |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044745/https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=USA Today}}</ref> | Up until September 22, 2023, Apple used their proprietary Lightning connector on the AirPods' charging case, which forced the consumer to purchase Apple-licensed chargers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borresen |first=Jennifer |date=22 Sep 2023 |title=iPhone 15 pro uses USB-C charger: An exploration of how Apple got here |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044745/https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=USA Today}}</ref> | ||
==== Degraded operating system choice ==== | ====Degraded operating system choice==== | ||
The [[Software-gating|software-gated]] features that AirPods are marketed with are mode to only work with Apple's [[wikipedia:Operating_system|operating systems]], resulting in device's capabilities that are on par with basic wireless headphones when paired with non-Apple devices.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Christian |date=2025-03-26 |title=Don't use AirPods with Android |url=https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407044828/https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/ |archive-date=2025-04-07 |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=SOUNDGUYS}}</ref> The software-gated features include: | The [[Software-gating|software-gated]] features that AirPods are marketed with are mode to only work with Apple's [[wikipedia:Operating_system|operating systems]], resulting in device's capabilities that are on par with basic wireless headphones when paired with non-Apple devices.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Christian |date=2025-03-26 |title=Don't use AirPods with Android |url=https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407044828/https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/ |archive-date=2025-04-07 |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=SOUNDGUYS}}</ref> The software-gated features include: | ||
* Spatial audio | *Spatial audio | ||
* The ear tip fit test | *The ear tip fit test | ||
* Auto EQ | *Auto EQ | ||
* Control customization | *Control customization | ||
* Find my earbuds | *Find my earbuds | ||
* Automatic device switching | *Automatic device switching | ||
* Conversation boost | *Conversation boost | ||
* Battery life status indicator | *Battery life status indicator | ||
* Automatic ear detection<ref name=":4" /> | *Automatic ear detection<ref name=":4" /> | ||
However there have been projects attempting to regain marketed features of AirPods with non-Apple products, such as LibrePods.<ref>https://github.com/cysgodi/librepods ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251220145417/https://github.com/cysgodi/librepods Archived])</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardwick |first=Tim |date=2025-11-21 |title=This Free App Unlocks AirPods Features on Android Devices |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/21/librepods-unlocks-airpods-features-android/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218044102/https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/21/librepods-unlocks-airpods-features-android/ |archive-date=18 Dec 2025|access-date=2026-02-02 |website=MacRumors}}</ref> | However there have been projects attempting to regain marketed features of AirPods with non-Apple products, such as LibrePods.<ref>https://github.com/cysgodi/librepods ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251220145417/https://github.com/cysgodi/librepods Archived])</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardwick |first=Tim |date=2025-11-21 |title=This Free App Unlocks AirPods Features on Android Devices |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/21/librepods-unlocks-airpods-features-android/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218044102/https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/21/librepods-unlocks-airpods-features-android/ |archive-date=18 Dec 2025|access-date=2026-02-02 |website=MacRumors}}</ref> | ||