But somehow they cannot figure out how to make a replaceable battery. hmm
>The reason earbud companies use non-replaceable rechargeable batteries is simple: It makes the earbuds smaller. Earbud buyers generally prefer more compact devices, but that means the earbuds have less room inside for all the necessary components. Designers need to cram a Bluetooth chip and processor, an antenna, a battery, drivers, controls, and microphones into something that’s often the size of a thimble. Replaceable battery compartments require more earbud real estate, and in a competitive field where tiny is currently king, companies don’t want to risk their earbuds being flops by making them bigger.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/your-wireless-earbud...
But I have to admit, my AirPods Pro are incredibly convenient
How can we verify that’s anything more than an urban legend? The same sort of rationalizations were made for the removal of the headphone jack, and they were proven false (the iPhone 7 had such a big empty space inside it that a YouTuber was able to fit Apple’s external lightning adapter in, drill a circle in the outer aluminum, and have a functioning 3.5mm jack). These CT scans seem to show some empty space where the stem meets the bud, perhaps they could detach there.
I had to replace one of the OG airpods because I lost it (around 2 years ago), but replacing a single airpod was only like $50.
My bigger issue is that my AirPods no longer give a warning when they're getting low on battery. The first time the sound chimes marks 3 seconds until it's about to die. I'm left scrambling to get my other one out as my phone reverts to handset audio (in my pocket).
Because out of all people I know irl who had airpods for 2+ years, no one has reported any noticeable battery loss, let alone something as extreme as "only lasts 15 mins". I would be livid if mine lasted anywhere even close to that, but so far I am solidly in the advertised battery life range, even after 3 years of use.
Also, just fyi, it seems like your unit might have been defective, in which case Apple offers free replacement (regardless of whether you have any additional warranties or not)[0]. If you have AppleCare+ and your battery lasts less than 80% of advertised range, it is also free replacement (even if it wasn't a defective unit). And just the regular replacement regardless of warranty or anything like that is $49.
Where did you hear that? That's not my experience at all. Apple denied that there was anything wrong with my iPhone 6S that suffered from sudden shutdowns for more than a year, before they introduced the iPhone 6S battery exchange program. That was a pretty frustrating experience.
> And just the regular replacement regardless of warranty or anything like that is $49.
In Europe it's 55€ per Airpod, so the total cost would have been 110€ (the second Airpod lasted a bit longer but still not enough to make it through a movie).
110€ seemed like a steep price to pay for two new Airpods with an old charging case that will cost another 55€ when its battery inevitably dies.
If you're fine with that sort of planned obsolescence, cool.
My AirPods are almost two years old, I use them every day and they are still going fine.
No? The "Here's How it Works" section specifically implies they're replacing the batteries.
>we'll send you a pair of genuine AirPod buds with restored battery life that have been cleaned and sanitized.