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That doesn't differ from their other offerings... Their laptops and phones do not have replaceable batteries, why would their headphones?

wiredfool 7y ago
The batteries in the other items are replaceable, it’s just not easy. In my understanding, the AirPods batteries simply aren’t replaceable at all.
- read_if_gay_ 7y ago
  Then it’s just a matter of what you think is easy enough to be called replaceable. I would wager for most consumers a MacBook battery is not in that category.
  - mendelmaleh 7y ago
    There are repair shops for 'most consumers'. They do great work, but even they can't fix an Airpod.
  - zakki 7y ago
    That most consumers will come to Apple with their laptop for a service and Genius will replace the battery. Will genius replace the battery for their AirPods?
    - crooked-v 7y ago
      Yes (though in practice, they're probably just swapping the unit and sending the original back to be refurbished). https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service
    - read_if_gay_ 7y ago
      When they “replaced the battery” on my dads iPad Pro they just sent him a new one. I don’t know if that holds for MacBooks as well, it might depend on the model: the 12” MacBook’s layered battery might be pretty hard to replace.
  - wiredfool 7y ago
    No, not really. Practically, an iPhone battery is replaceable in you average mall tech shop in a mid sized town. In the 5/6 era, it was a 30 minute job if you’re being slow and careful. (I’ve got 3 screen replacements and 2 battery swaps under my belt from that era). My understanding of the AirPods is that the complexity level is more akin to component level fixes for a main phone board. I’d expect that there are people who can do it, but they’re rare, and they’ve got specialized equipment, and it’s probably not worth it for an earphone battery.
sosborn 7y ago
Those batteries are replaceable, just not by you (officially anyway).
- skyyler 7y ago
  And for $49 each, Apple will replace the batteries in your airpods. (they probably just replace them) If they aren't replaceable by you, they aren't replaceable.
  - saagarjha 7y ago
    You can buy a third-party battery an install it in other products with a bit of work. You cannot do this for AirPods.
  - ravenstine 7y ago
    If that's true, it actually sounds like a good deal.
    - filoleg 7y ago
      https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service It is true, and it is indeed a pretty decent deal. $49 over the course of a few years is imo a reasonable price I am willing to pay for this. They also have a similar reasonably-priced battery replacement program for iPhones as well.
- jonny_eh 7y ago
  The batteries are not replaceable, at all. > An update to Monday’s report: Apple has confirmed that the new AirPods Pro are no more repairable than previous versions of the wireless earbuds. The pods are made partly with recyclable materials but due to size and build process (i.e glue) it doesn’t repair. Just replace. https://twitter.com/LaurenGoode/status/1189663651214450688 https://twitter.com/LaurenGoode/status/1189663651214450688
  - c0nducktr 7y ago
fermenflo 7y ago
Except their laptops and phones totally do... What are you talking about?
- skyyler 7y ago
  Every iPhone since the 8 has had a strip of glue holding the battery down. They aren't intended to be serviced, especially not by users.
  - selectodude 7y ago
    They're basically 3M Command Strips. They even have a pull tab. Calling it glue is being totally disingenuous.
mintocean 7y ago
That’s false. I’ve had the battery in my Apple laptops and phones replaced many times. They even monitor its health and tell you when to replace it.
mbesto 7y ago
> Their laptops and phones do not have replaceable batteries, why would their headphones? That's like comparing a car to wheels. Laptops/phones have infinitely more use cases to them. Headphones are accessories.

wiredfool 7y ago

The batteries in the other items are replaceable, it’s just not easy. In my understanding, the AirPods batteries simply aren’t replaceable at all.

read_if_gay_ 7y ago
Then it’s just a matter of what you think is easy enough to be called replaceable. I would wager for most consumers a MacBook battery is not in that category.
- mendelmaleh 7y ago
  There are repair shops for 'most consumers'. They do great work, but even they can't fix an Airpod.
- zakki 7y ago
  That most consumers will come to Apple with their laptop for a service and Genius will replace the battery. Will genius replace the battery for their AirPods?
  - crooked-v 7y ago
    Yes (though in practice, they're probably just swapping the unit and sending the original back to be refurbished). https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service
  - read_if_gay_ 7y ago
    When they “replaced the battery” on my dads iPad Pro they just sent him a new one. I don’t know if that holds for MacBooks as well, it might depend on the model: the 12” MacBook’s layered battery might be pretty hard to replace.
- wiredfool 7y ago
  No, not really. Practically, an iPhone battery is replaceable in you average mall tech shop in a mid sized town. In the 5/6 era, it was a 30 minute job if you’re being slow and careful. (I’ve got 3 screen replacements and 2 battery swaps under my belt from that era). My understanding of the AirPods is that the complexity level is more akin to component level fixes for a main phone board. I’d expect that there are people who can do it, but they’re rare, and they’ve got specialized equipment, and it’s probably not worth it for an earphone battery.

sosborn 7y ago

Those batteries are replaceable, just not by you (officially anyway).

skyyler 7y ago
And for $49 each, Apple will replace the batteries in your airpods. (they probably just replace them) If they aren't replaceable by you, they aren't replaceable.
- saagarjha 7y ago
  You can buy a third-party battery an install it in other products with a bit of work. You cannot do this for AirPods.
- ravenstine 7y ago
  If that's true, it actually sounds like a good deal.
  - filoleg 7y ago
    https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service It is true, and it is indeed a pretty decent deal. $49 over the course of a few years is imo a reasonable price I am willing to pay for this. They also have a similar reasonably-priced battery replacement program for iPhones as well.
jonny_eh 7y ago
The batteries are not replaceable, at all. > An update to Monday’s report: Apple has confirmed that the new AirPods Pro are no more repairable than previous versions of the wireless earbuds. The pods are made partly with recyclable materials but due to size and build process (i.e glue) it doesn’t repair. Just replace. https://twitter.com/LaurenGoode/status/1189663651214450688 https://twitter.com/LaurenGoode/status/1189663651214450688
- c0nducktr 7y ago

fermenflo 7y ago

Except their laptops and phones totally do... What are you talking about?

skyyler 7y ago
Every iPhone since the 8 has had a strip of glue holding the battery down. They aren't intended to be serviced, especially not by users.
- selectodude 7y ago
  They're basically 3M Command Strips. They even have a pull tab. Calling it glue is being totally disingenuous.

mintocean 7y ago

That’s false. I’ve had the battery in my Apple laptops and phones replaced many times. They even monitor its health and tell you when to replace it.

mbesto 7y ago

> Their laptops and phones do not have replaceable batteries, why would their headphones? That's like comparing a car to wheels. Laptops/phones have infinitely more use cases to them. Headphones are accessories.