iFixit’s AirPods Pro 3 Teardown Reveals Persistent Repair Woes

Apple’s newly released AirPods Pro 3 have drawn praise for features like heart rate tracking and improved water resistance. Yet under the surface, iFixit’s teardown confirms that repairability remains essentially dead on arrival.

The teardown pros describe the internal design of AirPods Pro 3 as “still a tragedy,” saying that Apple continues the pattern of making earbuds that are nearly impossible to disassemble or fix.

From the outside, Apple claims some meaningful improvements. The Pro 3 buds upgrade water resistance rating from IP54 to IP57, and they gain an infrared window enabling heart rate sensing. The internal audio and noise canceling hardware remain powered by Apple’s H2 chip.

The silicone tips also receive tweaks, Apple now uses a foam-infused material to help block ambient noise better. Despite those enhancements, iFixit’s disassembly process runs straight into the same obstacles Apple has long relied on.

The buds remain fully glued together, components are soldered in place or routed through stiff glue channels, and the battery is irrevocably sealed under layers of adhesive. Attempting to open one bud reportedly ends in shattered plastic, torn flex cables, or ruined drivers.

A central flaw persists i.e. the battery is effectively unreplacable for average users or repair shops. Even with care, removing the battery requires heat, specialized tools, and a high tolerance for damaging the casing. iFixit reports that just attempting reassembly often destroys the microphone and noise cancellation circuits.

iFixit reaffirms its 0/10 repairability rating for AirPods Pro 3. The verdict is that despite all the new features, these earbuds remain engineered for disposability rather than longevity.

Check out the AirPods Pro 3 teardown video below and let us know what you think.