The batteries of all electronic devices degrade over time, and AirPods are no exception. So if your AirPods batteries are old, and tend to not hold a charge for too long, you’ll probably need to get them replaced. In this guide, we go over a few different ways to get that done.
Get AirPods battery replaced by Apple
Apple offers AirPods battery service.
Like other Apple products, AirPods have a one-year warranty in the United States and most other countries. On top of that, you can buy AppleCare+ to extend it to two years. Additionally, in some regions like the European Union, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, you get two years of warranty because of specific local consumer laws, and with AppleCare+, that may go to three years.
If your AirPods are under one of the above warranty programs, Apple will probably replace them or fix the battery issue for free. However, if there aren’t manufacturing defects, AirPods battery mostly degrades and performs significantly poorly only after about 18 to 24 months of use. So, for most people, it means their AirPods are out of warranty when they start noticing poor battery backup.
If your AirPods with old, degraded, or damaged batteries are out of warranty, Apple can service them for you.
Apple charges the following battery service fee for AirPods:
- AirPods all generations: $49 for each AirPod
- AirPods Pro all generations: $49 for each AirPod
- AirPods Max: $79
- AirPods Charging Case (Normal or MagSafe): $49
Note that the above prices do not include tax or shipping fees, which can be about $6.95.
How to check if your AirPods are under warranty
1) Get your AirPods serial number.
2) Visit Apple’s official Check Coverage page, enter the AirPods serial number here, solve the verification code, and hit Continue.
Note: On iPhone, the Apple Support App Clip might show a card. You can tap View in Safari.
3) Here, you can see if repairs and service Coverage is expired or active.
What to do before taking your AirPods for battery repair to an Apple Store
Do the following to get your AirPods ready for service:
- Along with the AirPods, make sure you take its Charging Case to the Apple Store. You should also do this if you’re shipping the AirPods for service. You can also chat with Apple Support to learn more about it.
- There is no need to bring or ship the Smart Case if you’re servicing your AirPods Max.
- If you’re shipping AirPods Pro for service, remove the ear tips. If you ship them, the Apple service center may not return them.
- You do not need to ship the Lightning/USB-C cable or the charger.
- Using Apple’s Check Coverage page, it’s easy to check your remaining warranty. However, if you believe that the facts shown there are incorrect, make sure you take your valid AirPods proof of purchase (bill, receipt) along with you to the Apple Store.
With AirPods battery service, will Apple provide new or refurbished AirPods?
There’s no definitive answer to this, and it depends on your case and the Apple Service Center. You will receive a definite answer from the in-store Apple technician after they have inspected your AirPods.
In addition to battery service, you also have other options, like replacing a single or both lost AirPod(s) or the charging case. You can learn all about it on this official support page.
Learn about other third-party sites
The Apple method mentioned above is the best and only official way to address the degraded AirPods’ battery issue.
However, if you want to go through some other route, you can search for third-party services in your city that perform AirPods replacement.
The Swap Club (formerly Podswap) was one such great service where you could swap your current AirPods for a pair of the same generation with restored battery life for a small fee, which was less than what Apple charges. However, their site is no longer accessible, and it seems like they are not in business anymore.
If you are in Europe, you can try learning about Repods.eu.
Note that we have not used these third-party services, so please do your due diligence before sending them your old AirPods.
Replace AirPods battery yourself
For almost everyone, it’s not advisable to replace the AirPods battery yourself. The process is complex as AirPods are non-repairable. iFixit rated AirPods 1st, 2nd, 3rd generation, and AirPods Pro 0 out of 10 on their repairability score (with 10 being easiest to repair).
However, if you’re one with the required skills and tools, iFixit has a handy guide with videos, pictures, and instructions to help you replace your AirPods battery.
Purchase a new pair of AirPods or Beats earphones
This one is obvious!
If you are unhappy with your AirPods battery backup, you can consider upgrading to a newer pair and pass on your current pair to someone like your kids who do not need hours of battery life.
Once you have decided to upgrade, you can compare AirPods on Apple’s official website and opt for one with improved usage per charge.
Additionally, you can buy Beats earphones and headphones. Beats is owned by Apple, and all their recent models pair and work just like AirPods. If you are on a budget, check out Beats Flex, which retails for less than $50!
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