Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
AirPods 2 Teardown: H1 Chip With Bluetooth 5.0, Same Batteries, and Water-Repellent Coating on Charging Case Board
iFixit today shared a teardown of the second-generation AirPods, providing a closer look at the H1 chip with Bluetooth 5.0 and the same 93 milliwatt hour battery in each of the AirPods in line with the original pair.
New charging case on left and new AirPods with H1 chip labeled in red on right via iFixit
The repair website also pried open the new wireless charging case, which continues to have a 398 mAh battery capacity, and said there is a new "water-repellent coating" on the circuit board. The teardown notes that the updated charging case "seems designed for increased durability, but not repairability."
Unsurprisingly, the new AirPods earned a zero for repairability, as iFixit says they remain "disappointingly disposable." AirPods are not designed to be serviced, as no hardware components can be accessed without damaging the earphones, and sealed-in batteries make the AirPods a consumable product.
Many of these details were already known, but the teardown still provides an interesting look at the internal differences compared to the first-generation AirPods. More photos and tech specs are available over on iFixit's website.
The repair website also pried open the new wireless charging case, which continues to have a 398 mAh battery capacity, and said there is a new "water-repellent coating" on the circuit board. The teardown notes that the updated charging case "seems designed for increased durability, but not repairability."
Unsurprisingly, the new AirPods earned a zero for repairability, as iFixit says they remain "disappointingly disposable." AirPods are not designed to be serviced, as no hardware components can be accessed without damaging the earphones, and sealed-in batteries make the AirPods a consumable product.
Many of these details were already known, but the teardown still provides an interesting look at the internal differences compared to the first-generation AirPods. More photos and tech specs are available over on iFixit's website.
Related Roundup: AirPods 2
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
[ 202 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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21 weeks ago
The new AirPods earned a zero for repairability, as iFixit says they remain "disappointingly disposable."
Of course they are. This is a marvel of miniaturization and integration out of sci fi books, not a tower PC.
21 weeks ago
There is something ironic about these being a status symbol among 'millenials' who prize saving the oceans, cutting waste and cutting CO2 emissions when these are perhaps one of the worst accessories in existence to buy for the environment.
21 weeks ago
What would you expect to be able to repair in a product like this? Maybe replace the case battery but that's about it.
21 weeks ago
As an owner of the original set, this is an engineering triumph, IMHO. I could care less if it's user repairable, that would make it larger and clunky.
21 weeks ago
There is something ironic about these being a status symbol among 'millenials' who prize saving the oceans, cutting waste and cutting CO2 emissions when these are perhaps one of the worst accessories in existence to buy for the environment.
Really? What about the iPad that is non-repairable either and much larger? Literally the majority of Apple's lineup is now non-user repairable. And I don't get the hatred towards millennials as I see just as many Boomers and Gen Xers with AirPods as I do millennials. I do not see what sociology has to do with headphone choice.
21 weeks ago
I thought Apple related in the announcement that these new AirPods have an extra hour of battery life? How so with the same sized battery? 5 hours of listening and 3 hours of talk time. Can't wait to see the tests.
More power efficient bluetooth 5.0 is how.
21 weeks ago
Apple needs to stop making products that cannot be repaired. You might give Apple a pass for the ear buds, but they do the same thing for all of their products and it sucks. Any yes, I am still using an iPhone 4S. Why? Because getting to the battery to replace wasn't hard unlike the newer models, and treating electronics like disposable trash is ruining the planet. I'll be upgrading my phone soon, but Apple increasingly is making their products less attractive by making them hard to repair while simultaneously making them less reliable.
21 weeks ago
What would you expect to be able to repair in a product like this? Maybe replace the case battery but that's about it.
That is precisely what one would want to do. Replace the battery in the each bud. The Galaxy Buds got a 6 out of 10 from ifixit due to the relatively easy procedure to replace the coin cell battery in each bud which is available online. We all know that after 2 years of frequent use the batteries will be degareded.
21 weeks ago
Even not being repairable, I wish apple offered a flat rate for a swap because of degraded battery life
At least they could give you a discount when you bring them to the AS to buy a new pair.
21 weeks ago
I find it funny they gave it a 0/10 for repairability. Not everything can or is even meant to be user serviceable.
But that's, like, the point of the assessment? They grade repairability for whatever comes in. Dont take it personal.
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