Apple's wireless earphones, AirPods 5, has for the first time moved off a zero score in a repairability assessment. That follows confirmation of a design that allows the earbud battery to be separated without completely destroying the product. Still, the repairability score was only 2 out of 10, and the product was assessed as difficult to repair by users themselves.

On Sept. 29, IT outlet 9to5Mac reported that teardown specialist iFixit rated the AirPods 5 at 2 out of 10 for repairability.

Since its first release in 2016, AirPods has been considered difficult to repair. Batteries are fixed with strong adhesive and many internal components are connected by soldering, making it hard to disassemble or reassemble without damaging the product. As a result, all earlier generations of AirPods received a repairability score of zero.

The key reason AirPods 5 moved off zero is a change in the battery design. In iFixit's teardown, a structure was partially confirmed that allows the battery inside the earbud to be removed without completely destroying the product. That effectively improves access for battery replacement compared with earlier generations.

iFixit assessed this as "a very small step in the direction of Apple improving AirPods repairability." It added that actual battery replacement remains suitable for skilled professionals or users accustomed to self-repair.

Battery replacement has become possible, but there are limits. The batteries in the left and right earbuds are not compatible with each other. That is because the polarity is reversed and the contact points are designed slightly differently. Repairability has not improved to the point where battery parts can be swapped freely.

Deeper disassembly inside the earbud also remains difficult. iFixit pointed out that if the earbud is opened further during the teardown, it is virtually impossible to proceed without damaging the product.

Repairability gains for the charging case are also limited. Accessing the inside of the case remains tricky, leaving a high barrier for users to repair it themselves, as in earlier generations.

The teardown also confirmed the AirPods 5's high component density. A CT scan showed small parts such as the battery, MEMS microphone and H2 chip tightly packed inside the earbud. Concentrating various components in a small housing helps miniaturisation but makes disassembly and reassembly harder.

iFixit also introduced a way to access the battery using a standard hairdryer. Still, the ability to access the battery alone makes it hard to say the AirPods 5's overall repairability has improved significantly.

Ultimately, the AirPods 5's biggest change appears in battery replacement. It is meaningful in that AirPods, which scored zero for repairability through the previous generation, recorded a score above zero for the first time. But a high degree of difficulty remains for deep earbud disassembly and charging case repair.

It remains to be seen what changes AirPods 5's improved repairability will bring to Apple's future wireless earphone design direction. For now, only a partial improvement in access for battery replacement has been confirmed, and it is too early to assess that AirPods has broadly become a repair-friendly product.