Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by wiredfool on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @04:59PM (#21985453)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by read_if_gay_ on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:11PM (#21985608)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by zakki on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:21PM (#21985744)

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?

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by crooked-v on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:29PM (#21985820)

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

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by read_if_gay_ on Wednesday January 08, 2020 @01:48AM (#21988979)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by wiredfool on Wednesday January 08, 2020 @04:14PM (#21995867)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by mendelmaleh on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:19PM (#21985704)

There are repair shops for 'most consumers'. They do great work, but even they can't fix an Airpod.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by sosborn on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:01PM (#21985478)

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

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by jonny_eh on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:36PM (#21985885)

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

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by c0nducktr on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:39PM (#21985911)

I believe they were referring to the batteries in their other products, not the airpods.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by skyyler on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:34PM (#21985867)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by ravenstine on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @07:12PM (#21986766)

If that's true, it actually sounds like a good deal.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by filoleg on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @07:26PM (#21986885)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by saagarjha on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @06:24PM (#21986384)

You can buy a third-party battery an install it in other products with a bit of work. You cannot do this for AirPods.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by mintocean on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:23PM (#21985761)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by mbesto on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @07:38PM (#21986986)

> 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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by fermenflo on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:07PM (#21985561)

Except their laptops and phones totally do...

What are you talking about?

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by skyyler on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @05:16PM (#21985673)

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.

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Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? by selectodude on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @06:09PM (#21986252)

They're basically 3M Command Strips. They even have a pull tab. Calling it glue is being totally disingenuous.

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