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Contents10
  1. Consumer impact summary
  2. Repairability
  3. Freedom
  4. Incidents
  5. AirPods Pro sound issues (2020)
  6. AirPods Max moisture issue (2021)
  7. Connection security vulnerability (2025)
  8. Products
  9. See also
  10. References

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AirPods
Basic Information
Release Year 13 December 2016
Product Type Wireless earbuds
In Production Yes
Official Website https://apple.com/airpods

AirPods are wireless earbuds designed by Apple. They first debuted on 7 September 2016, alongside the iPhone 7, and were released on 13 December 2016.[1][2]

Consumer impact summary

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


Repairability

Obsolescence

AirPods are designed in a way that makes them non-repairable, leading to customers having to buy a new pair after a few years of use. Apple can replace them but will not repair them or help you do it yourself.[3] According to an expert from iFixit:

If you want to take this apart, non-destructively, to replace the batteries, as far as I know, that's impossible.[3]

The rechargeable batteries in AirPods can experience fast-tracked degradation after a certain number of battery cycles,[3] with two-year-old sets lasting for less than half of the advertised five hours.[4][5]

Replacement over repair

An image depicting the price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.
Price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.

Apple has a dedicated portal to purchase "battery service", which involves destroying outer parts,[3] and replacements individual AirPods and charging cases. The replacement of one or both AirPods or the charging case has a lower price with AppleCare+ than without. Apple offers battery servicing for free with AppleCare+ and for a fee without.[5][6]

Freedom

Proprietary standards

Up until 22 September 2023, Apple used their proprietary Lightning connector on the AirPods' charging case, which forced the consumer to purchase Apple-licensed chargers.[7]

Degraded operating system choice

The software-gated features that AirPods are marketed with are mode to only work with Apple's operating systems, resulting in the device's capabilities being on par with basic wireless headphones when paired with non-Apple devices.[8] The software-gated features include:

  • Spatial audio
  • The ear tip fit test
  • Auto EQ
  • Control customization
  • Find my earbuds
  • Automatic device switching
  • Conversation boost
  • Battery life status indicator
  • Automatic ear detection[8]

However there have been projects attempting to regain marketed features of AirPods with non-Apple products, such as LibrePods.[9][10]

Incidents

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the AirPods category.

AirPods Pro sound issues (2020)

The "Rattlegate" issue, which is officially known as the AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues, was reportedly frustrating for early AirPods Pro adopters. The problem primarily affected the first-generation AirPods Pro. Users reported:

  • Crackling or static sounds that intensified in loud environments, during exercise, or while talking on the phone.
  • Rattling noises triggered by head movement or footsteps.
  • Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) failure, resulting in a loss of bass or an increase in background noise (like street or airplane sounds).

Apple officially acknowledged the hardware defect in October 2020, and determined that a "small percentage" of units manufactured before October 2020 were defective.[11] They launched a global service program to replace affected earbuds (left, right, or both) free of charge, provided they passed a diagnostic test at an Apple Store or authorized provider. Originally, the program covered units for two years after their first retail sale. On 1 October 2021,[12] Apple quietly extended this to three years.[13]

Despite Apple's claim that only units made before October 2020 were affected, a significant number of users who bought AirPods Pro in 2021 and 2022 reported the exact same rattling and crackling. Because Apple's internal database marks units manufactured after October 2020 as "fixed", these serial numbers are ineligible for the free service program. If you are outside of your standard one-year warranty (or two-year AppleCare+ window), Apple's official stance is usually to charge a "repair" fee that often costs as much as a new pair.[citation needed (4 Apr 2026)]

Many experts believe the issue was a fundamental design flaw in the first-gen hardware (likely related to glue degradation or sweat ingress affecting the internal microphones) rather than a specific "bad batch." As of 2026, the service program has officially ended for the vast majority of users because the "three years from date of sale" window has expired for almost everyone who owned the original Gen 1 model. Because of the refusal to cover units made after 2020 and the fact that many "replacement" units eventually failed too, Apple has faced several class-action lawsuits (notably LaBella v. Apple Inc.). These suits allege that Apple continued to sell a defective product and misled consumers about the "fix."[14]

AirPods Max moisture issue (2021)

Main article: AirPods Max moisture issue
A photo showing the moisture buildup inside user PatrikGustafsson's Headphones after exercising on an indoor bike.
Moisture buildup inside user PatrikGustafsson's AirPods Max after exercising on an indoor bike.

Many Apple AirPods Max owners have reported moisture issues with the headphones. More specifically, after around 30 or more minutes of use, users have reported a visible buildup of moisture near the speakers of the ear-cups.[15] Depending on the severity of the moisture buildup present, the headphones could fail between five days of use in the more extreme cases, to around three months of use.[16] Additional conditions contributing to this issue include exercise or climate and humidity levels present when wearing the headphones. Apple has historically treated the AirPods Max condensation issues as "Liquid Damage", voiding warranties and likely prompting a $300 to $500 replacement.[16]

On 23 April 2025, Arthur Apicella filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple over the moisture problem affecting the AirPods Max headphones.[17] As of 9 April 2026, the lawsuit's status is unclear — the latest update to be found is from 8 November 2025, with the plaintiffs opposing Apple's motion for dismissal.[18]

Connection security vulnerability (2025)

Main article: AirPods connection vulnerability
CVE-2024-27867 NIST Assessment
CVE-2024-27867 NIST Assessment

A security vulnerability was discovered by Jonas Dreßler, which would allow an attacker within the Bluetooth range of any AirPods device to potentially spoof the source device address, redirecting it to another device controlled by the attacker and gaining control of the AirPods.[19][20][21]

Products

  • AirPods (1st generation) (13 December 2016[1])
  • AirPods (2nd generation) (20 March 2019[1])
  • AirPods Pro (1st generation) (30 October 2019[1])
  • AirPods Max (15 December 2020[1])
  • AirPods (3rd generation) (26 October 2021[1])
  • AirPods Pro 2 (previously 2nd generation) (23 September 2022[1])
  • AirPods 4/ANC (20 September 2024[1])
  • AirPods Pro 3 (19 September 2025[1])

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Hunter, Noah (9 Sep 2025). "Every Apple AirPods Generation: A Full History of Release Dates". IGN. Archived from the original on 4 Jan 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  2. ↑ "Apple reinvents the wireless headphone with AirPods". Apple. 7 Sep 2016. Archived from the original on 4 Jan 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Wall Street Journal (20 Apr 2023). "Apple Doesn't Repair AirPods. Here's Why". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2 Feb 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  4. ↑ Elalj, Simo (16 Apr 2024). "How Long Do AirPods Last? (Battery & Lifespan)". RefurbMe. Archived from the original on 23 Jul 2025. Retrieved 20 Feb 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Apple Service and Repair for AirPods". Apple. Archived from the original on 20 Feb 2026. Retrieved 20 Feb 2026.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Jason (4 Mar 2026). "Do You Need AppleCare+? Here's What Apple's Extended Warranty Really Covers". PC Mag. Archived from the original on 11 Mar 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  7. ↑ Borresen, Jennifer (22 Sep 2023). "iPhone 15 pro uses USB-C charger: An exploration of how Apple got here". USA Today. Archived from the original on 4 Jan 2026. Retrieved 24 Nov 2025.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Thomas, Christian (26 Mar 2025). "Don't use AirPods with Android". SOUNDGUYS. Archived from the original on 7 Apr 2025. Retrieved 5 Jan 2026.
  9. ↑ cysgodi. "AirPods liberated from Apple's ecosystem". GitHub. Archived from the original on 20 Dec 2025. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  10. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (21 Nov 2025). "This Free App Unlocks AirPods Features on Android Devices". MacRumors. Archived from the original on 18 Dec 2025. Retrieved 2 Feb 2026.
  11. ↑ "AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues". Apple. 30 Oct 2020. Archived from the original on 4 Jun 2022.
  12. ↑ "Comparison between captures taken 1 October 2021 and 2 October 2021 on the Wayback Machine". Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 15 Apr 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  13. ↑ matejamm1 (13 Oct 2021). "PSA: Apple silently extended the AirPods Pro Service Program for an additional year, now covering AirPods that crackle for 3 years in total after first sale". Reddit. Archived from the original on 10 Apr 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Persinger, Annick M. (1 Nov 2024). "LaBella v. Apple Inc (5:24-cv-07588)". Court Listener. Archived from the original on 10 Apr 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  15. ↑ jehdian (4 Jan 2021). "Condensation in the AirPods Max". Apple. Archived from the original on 9 Apr 2026. Retrieved 5 Mar 2026.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 pavanayii (17 Jan 2022). "Condensation broke my device, Apple says there's nothing they can do". Reddit. Archived from the original on 17 Jan 2022.
  17. ↑ Kumar, Aman (21 Jul 2025). "What Is The Lawsuit Against Apple Over The AirPods Max Headphones?". SLASHGEAR. Archived from the original on 24 Jul 2025. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  18. ↑ "Apicella v. Apple Inc. (2:25-cv-02261)". PacerMonitor. Archived from the original on 10 Apr 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  19. ↑ "CVE-2024-27867 Detail". National Institute of Standards and Technology. 24 Jun 2024. Archived from the original on 9 Nov 2025. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  20. ↑ Divya (27 Jun 2024). "Apple AirPods Bluetooth Vulnerability Lets Attackers Gain Access to Device". Cyber Security News. Archived from the original on 27 Jun 2024. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
  21. ↑ "About the security content of AirPods Firmware Update 6A326, AirPods Firmware Update 6F8, and Beats Firmware Update 6F8". Apple. 25 Jun 2025. Archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026. Retrieved 9 Apr 2026.
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