Apple
Earbuds & wearables · Last assessed 6/9/2026
Score breakdown
Why this grade
AirPods (AirPods Pro, AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3) all score 0/10 on iFixit: glued/epoxied shut, soldered or glued-in batteries, no components serviceable without destruction, treated as disposable. Apple Watch Series 9/10 score only 3/10 (adhesive-heavy, tight seams). No official replacement parts or repair instructions for either category (Apple Self Service Repair excludes AirPods and Apple Watch). AirPods battery 'service' is effectively whole-unit replacement; firmware pairing and Watch Activation Lock further impede repair.
Methodology & version
Five dimensions — parts availability, schematic access, repairability, OEM pricing, and software freedom — are scored 0–100 and weighted equally; the letter grade is the average (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). This assessment is current as of 6/9/2026 and cites its sources below. It covers the Earbuds & wearables category and is not a claim about every device the maker ships.