AirPods Pro (3rd Gen) teardown — iFixit finds 0/10 repairability

iFixit’s teardown of the AirPods Pro (3rd generation) shows that Apple’s latest in-ear headphones are essentially impossible to repair at home. The team gave the earbuds a 0/10 repairability score after finding sealed, glued components and batteries that require destructive disassembly.

Key findings

• Repairability score: 0/10 — earbuds and case are glued and require destructive opening.
• Batteries: Single glued-in cells in each earbud; the case battery is also glued in, making replacements impractical.
• Disassembly: Requires heat and prying tools that damage plastic housings; internal components aren’t modular.
• Design notes: Internal layout changes (fewer rare-earth magnets, foam-infused tips) but no meaningful improvement for repairability.
• Battery life: Reported reduction in case capacity vs previous generation (user reports and teardown details).

Sources and further reading: iFixit teardown and MacRumors summary.

Buy (US Amazon affiliate): Search for AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon.

Takeaway

The AirPods Pro 3 continue Apple’s trend of designs that make independent repairs nearly impossible. If repairability matters to you, consider this when buying or contact Apple about repair options. What do you think — should Apple be required to make wearables more repairable? Leave a comment.