It's impossible to make something as small and as feature-packed as Apple's AirPods Pro without making some sacrifices, like a fixed battery that can never be swapped, right? Right?
Replacing the battery of the Fairbuds XL | Fairphone
Fairbuds, from the Dutch maker of the super-repairable, modular Fairphone, are wireless earbuds with batteries that can be swapped out in seconds, yet still pack noise cancellation, touch controls, and more. They may not be as sleek as Apple’s AirPods , but if they do nothing else, they prove that you don’t have to make products disposable to make them small.
“Fairbuds shows us that the rest of the electronics world can and should do better. We shouldn’t have to accept headphones that only last as long as the batteries are in them. It’s a waste of money, materials, and manufacturing,” Elizabeth Chamberlain, director of sustainability at iFixit, told me via direct message.
I love my AirPods Pro. They’re always ready to go, fit neatly in a pocket, and sound great. The noise cancellation makes them suitable for busy streets, the subway, and blocking out noisy neighbors at bedtime. But once the batteries start to wear out, you have one choice: throw them out and spend another $250 to replace them.
