Wireless Earbud Repairability Scores
You have the right to repair the things you own—but how easily can that be done?
To find out, our engineers tear down the latest wireless earbuds and score their repairability from zero (unrepairable) to ten (easiest to repair) so you can pick a product that is easy to repair and lasts as long as possible.
What makes a repairable device?
It should be straightforward to disassemble and replace whatever’s broken, using parts and instructions supplied (or endorsed) by the manufacturer. But that’s just to start—repairability means so much more. For full details, see our repairability scoring explainer.
Repairability is a moving target
We update our scoring rubric frequently to stay current with new technologies, materials, and design trends. This means that devices scored in years past might not fare exactly the same if they were re-scored today, but they can be readily compared with their contemporaries. For a precise list of criteria used to calculate each score, click the scorecard version number linked to each device below. For a downloadable (CSV) list of all scores, click here.
Wireless Earbud Scores
Sorted by newest to oldest
Fairphone Fairbuds
2024
PROS
- The coin cell earbud batteries are very easy to replace.
- The charging case uses highly modular components and is straightforward to disassemble with basic tools.
- Fairphone is committed to providing official replacement parts and instructions for repairs.
Amazon Echo Buds (3rd Gen)
2023
PROS
- The charging case battery and USB-C port are both modular, replaceable parts.
CONS
- The charging case is firmly glued together, complicating most repairs.
NOTES
- The earbud batteries are modular, but they aren’t standard coin cells. Since no official replacement parts or repair instructions are available, sourcing replacements could be tricky.
Google Pixel Buds Pro
2022
PROS
- The charging case battery and USB-C port are both modular, replaceable parts.
CONS
- The earbud batteries are firmly epoxied in place and aren’t replaceable.
- The charging case doesn’t clip together, relying solely on glue. Reassembly requires special adhesive.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
2021
PROS
- The charging case clips together without adhesive, and the USB-C charging port is modular.
CONS
- The earbud batteries are soldered in place, making DIY repairs extra difficult.
- The charging case battery is connected to the glued-in charging pins, lengthening the time it takes to service.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Sony WF-1000XM4
2021
PROS
- The earbud batteries are fairly straightforward to access and can be replaced with standard Z55H coin cells.
- The charging case battery and port are modular and straightforward to access.
CONS
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
JBL Vibe 200TWS
2021
CONS
- Prying open the earbuds is likely to be a destructive process. Once you’re inside, no components are replaceable, and the batteries are soldered in place.
- The charging case battery and charging port are soldered to the internal board—if you need to replace one, you have to replace both.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
PQ Y28 Earbuds
2021
PROS
- The earbuds feature clever, magnetically-attaching batteries as the earbud stems, allowing for on-the-go hot-swaps with the extras stored in the case.
CONS
- The charging case battery and USB-C port are both soldered to the internal board.
- No official repair instructions are available. Other than the bespoke earbud batteries, no replacement parts are available.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
2020
PROS
- The earbud batteries are easily accessed and can be replaced with standard Z55H coin cells.
- Both the buds and charging case are held together with clips instead of glue, allowing for non-destructive disassembly.
CONS
- No official repair instructions are available. And, other than the earbud batteries, no replacement parts are available.
Microsoft Surface Earbuds
2020
PROS
- The earbud batteries are fairly straightforward to access and can be replaced with standard CP1254 coin cells.
CONS
- The charging case battery and charging port are soldered to the internal board—if you need to replace one, you have to replace both.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Apple AirPods Pro
2019
CONS
- AirPods are not designed to be serviced. No hardware components can be accessed without damage to the device.
- Sealed-in batteries limit the AirPods’ lifespan, making them a consumable/disposable item.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Sony WF-1000XM3
2018
PROS
- The earbud batteries are easily accessed and can be replaced with standard Z55H coin cells.
CONS
- The charging case battery and charging port are soldered to the internal board—if you need to replace one, you have to replace both.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
