iFixit AirPods Max 2 Teardown: Same Design, Same Repairability Issues
Repair site iFixit today shared a teardown of Apple's new AirPods Max 2 headphones, and as expected, there are few changes. iFixit says the AirPods Max 2 are "basically the same" as the original AirPods Max headphones that came out in 2020.
A comparison of the internal components of the AirPods Max 2 and the USB-C AirPods Max indicate the headphones are identical, and opening them up requires the same steps. The only difference is the updated H2 chips inside each earcup.
Apple hasn't addressed the common failure points in the AirPods Max, such as condensation that builds up in the earcups in humid environments, and Apple doesn't have parts or repair manuals available.
iFixit suggests that if Apple made instructions and components available through its self-service repair program and made the battery and USB-C port more accessible, the AirPods Max would be repairable and could have a much longer lifespan.
With no updates to the AirPods Max 2 design, the headphones are no more repairable than the prior-generation models. iFixit gave the prior version a repairability score of 6/10.
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AirPods Max 2 will be available for pre-order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting this Wednesday, March 25 in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries and territories. Apple said the headphones will launch in early April, but it has yet to provide a specific release date. In the U.S., AirPods Max remain priced at $549.
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Starting today, the AirPods Max 2 are available for purchase at many Apple Store locations around the world, and deliveries to customers have also begun.
Apple's website shows same-day pickup availability at many Apple Stores in the U.S. and abroad.
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