Apple makes the AirPods 5 slightly less hostile to repair

Apple's latest AirPods make a small concession to repairability. And by "small," we mean they scored two out of ten rather than zero. Every previous generation of AirPods tested by iFixit has received a repairability score of zero out of ten. "We've bled for AirPods. We've sliced them, melted them, cursed at them," the team stated. Apple's earbuds resisted every attempt to repair them without destructive surgery. The AirPods 5 have finally broken that streak – barely. The AirPods 5 arrived alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Duo. Apple's latest entry-level earbuds resemble the previous generation, with short plastic stems, no silicone tips, and a USB-C charging case. Buyers pay extra for a case with wireless charging. The earbuds also gain IP57 dust and water resistance, but iFixit was more interested in what had changed inside. According to iFixit, a skilled technician – or sufficiently determined DIYer – could replace the batteries without destroying the earbuds. …