After the disassembly of the latest iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone Air, and its MagSafe Battery, iFixit has released the teardown of the new AirPods Pro 3. Here’s what they discovered.
Let’s address this point first: like previous AirPods iterations, the new AirPods Pro 3 are nearly impossible to repair. iFixit remarks, “AirPods rank among the most unrepairable and wasteful items you could potentially purchase. The batteries in AirPods, akin to all portable devices, tend to deteriorate after 2-3 years of regular use. The newly launched AirPods Pro 3 are no different.” Even an expert technician would find it challenging to swap the battery or any other part without risking significant cosmetic damage to the earbuds or possibly destroying them entirely.
As a result, the new AirPods Pro 3 earn a 0/10 repairability rating, continuing their dismal nine-year record, which hardly comes as a shock.
Now that we’ve settled that, let’s move on to the interesting details.
### Analyzing the AirPods Pro 3 with a CT Scan
The first observation from iFixit is that Apple has substituted the dual battery cells found in earlier models with a singular, 1.334Wh battery. They also pointed out that this battery is simpler to extract than in previous versions, although this doesn’t enhance the actual repairability of the earbuds. Furthermore, Apple has reconfigured the rare earth magnets arrangement inside the case, enabling a reduction in the number of magnets while maintaining Qi2 and MagSafe compatibility.
### Examining the Foam-Infused Tips Under the Microscope
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the teardown is the cross-section of the foam-infused earbuds. The inner foam structure aids the tips in providing a snugger seal and enhanced noise isolation. The foam possesses a bubbly texture, enveloped by a silicon layer.
Be sure to watch their video, which illustrates in detail the challenging (and likely damaging) disassembly procedure.
Have you acquired the AirPods Pro 3? What has your experience been thus far?
