Wireless earbuds are notoriously difficult to repair, but Apple's latest AirPods 5 show a slight shift toward user-friendliness. A teardown by iFixit reveals that Apple has returned to using pronged batteries, which are significantly easier to replace than the glued-in components found in previous generations. While this is a small win for consumers, the overall repair process remains tedious.

Technicians must clamp the earbuds and apply even heat to the top casing to melt the adhesive. Once opened, the battery is visible but is held in place by additional adhesive strips. A key limitation is that the left and right buds feature opposite polarities, making battery swaps between them impossible.

Despite these challenges, the switch to pronged batteries is why the AirPods 5 receive a 2/10 repairability score from iFixit. This score, while low, is an improvement, as worn-out batteries are among the most common failures in wireless earbuds. The move signals that Apple is taking steps in the right direction regarding device longevity.