AirPods have a status for being unrepairable, however one engineer may need an unofficial workaround. Ken Pillonel (of USB-C iPhone fame) has created an open supply restore package for first- and second-generation AirPods fashions. If you are comfy cracking open the case, you may carry out repairs (similar to putting in a recent battery) and get again to enterprise utilizing a 3D-printed substitute half. Moreover, the package will drag your AirPods into the trendy period — it switches the charging port from Lightning to an EU-friendly USB-C connection.

Pillonel is publishing the mandatory 3D printing and PCB (circuit board) recordsdata on his GitHub repository. He’s undecided about promoting ready-made restore kits himself, however he is open to the likelihood.

This answer clearly is not for the faint of coronary heart. You’ll want entry to printing {hardware}, to not point out some technical know-how. To Pillonel, nonetheless, it is definitely worth the effort. In regular use, the AirPods charging case is destined to turn into e-waste if it both breaks or loses an excessive amount of battery life. The DIY package guarantees to maintain your case helpful for years to return, and affords connectivity you will not get by ordering a case from Apple.