contador web Skip to content

iFixit disassembles the new AirPods and… scores zero for “repairability”

What happens when a new Apple product is released? That’s right, iFixit runs to get his hands on it in order to dismantle everything and show us the technological guts created in the basements of Cupertino. And that’s what happened with the new AirPods (second generation).

This work by iFixit stands out precisely in such cases as the AirPods, when the new product looks practically identical to the previous one but comes with internal news. Without further ado, let’s get to the news!

AirPods disassembled by iFixit

Here is an X-ray of the AirPods, in which you can see the end of the coil responsible for wireless charging. As we said, visually almost nothing has changed; the case, however, became 2.3 grams heavier due to wireless charging.

AirPods disassembled by iFixit

Perhaps, as a way of differentiating the cases, the metal piece of the case with wireless recharge has a more brushed look; in addition, the pairing button has been moved higher (probably due to the new internal organization of the case components).

AirPods disassembled by iFixit

It’s amazing – and that’s not just Apple, but any manufacturer that creates wireless headphones that big – how engineers can put so many components inside something so small. For reference only, AirPods are identified by models A2031 (left AirPod) and A2032 (right).

AirPods disassembled by iFixit

Inside the case, we can see the product model itself (A1938) and the indication of the battery capacity of the case, 398mAh.

AirPods disassembled by iFixit

When opening one of the AirPods, we see flexible cables, antennas, microphones, the H1 chip and everything more carefully fitted as a puzzle and fixed with glue.

As much as the case has wireless charging capabilities (which increases the number of internal components), the battery used by Apple is exactly the same as that found in the first generation case – model A1596; 3.81V, 398mAh and 1.52Wh (greater than that found in Samsung Galaxy Buds, 1.03Wh, and that used in the 42mm Apple Watch Series 4, 1.133Wh).

They noticed that the logic board, however, is a little more “sticky”, as if it were a coating – probably to help with water resistance; the loading port remains modular; the sync button now has two additional solder points for the ends of the wireless charging coil; speaking of it, there is the new coil next to a thermal mat to keep the temperature under control.

AirPods disassembled by iFixit

In general, iFixit commented that the case is slightly modified and has become more durable (mainly to unexpected dives), which is different from repairable (something basically impossible in this product). The product continues to be disposable and, therefore, earned a score of 0 in terms of “repairability” – comparatively, the Galaxy Buds achieved an incredible new 6/10.

For those interested, here’s a video of the entire teardown: