Seven Headphone Models That Actually Have Replaceable Batteries.
Look, I love my AirPods . I wouldn’t choose another pair of headphones, given how attached I am to the Apple ecosystem. While the sound quality and feature set still appeal to me, there’s one huge drawback: once the battery dies, the AirPods stop working too.
AirPods is far from alone. Many wireless earbuds don’t offer battery replacement options, whether you’re replacing them yourself or taking them to a repair shop. The design of these devices makes battery replacement nearly impossible, as manufacturers often solder them to the case. And since all lithium-ion batteries wear out over time, your earbuds will eventually stop holding a charge. When that day comes, you’ll likely buy a new pair, potentially spending hundreds of dollars and adding another device to the e-waste pile.
This shouldn’t be the case. In-ear headphone manufacturers prefer to design their products without replaceable batteries. We know this because some companies sell headphones with replaceable batteries. While this should serve as a lesson for all manufacturers, it also opens up opportunities for buyers concerned about the longevity of their products: if you’re looking for headphones that won’t become useless in two or three years, consider these seven options:
Fairphone Fairbuds
Fairphone’s key selling point is repairability. The company’s product line, including the Fairphone smartphone, Fairbuds XL earphones, and Fairbuds in-ear headphones, is designed with modularity and DIY repairability in mind, eliminating glue and complex manufacturing processes, with easily accessible screws. This also applies to the earphones: not only are the batteries in the Fairbuds replaceable, but the charging case is also easily repairable. Furthermore, iFixit awarded the Fairbuds a perfect repairability score , the first such rating for earphones I’ve seen.
However, achieving this level of repairability may require some compromises. User reviews on Amazon are mixed, to say the least. While the earbuds offer modern features like active noise cancellation, iOS and Android apps, and the ability to connect to multiple devices simultaneously, critics on Amazon complain about the fit, reliability, and lag in controls. However, there are also positive reviews praising the repairability, as well as the sound quality and overall experience. Without personal experience, the Fairbuds don’t seem to be suitable for users looking for the best wireless earbuds, but they are worth considering if repairability is especially important to you.
Sony WF-1000XM3 or WF1000XM4
Sony is known for its headphones and earbuds, but conversations usually focus on sound quality and build quality. As it turns out, the company has a history of producing headphones with a decent level of repairability—though this has changed with its latest models.
Two of the company’s headphone models, the WF-1000XM3 and WF-1000XM4 , come with easily replaceable coin-cell batteries. iFixit notes that the MX3 is particularly easy to repair, and while the MX4 isn’t as easy to disassemble, the batteries are still fairly easy to replace. However, with the XM5, Sony has significantly complicated this process, and attempting to replace the batteries yourself carries a much greater risk of permanently damaging the headphones. The situation is similar with the XM6 , and their battery may even be custom-made, making user repairs significantly more difficult.
The good news is that older models of the XM3 and XM4 headphones are still available, if you don’t mind going back to the older generations. At least you’ll be sure to keep using your headphones even after the battery runs out.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
Most Samsung earbuds released this decade aren’t easily repairable, but back in 2020, things were different. The Galaxy Buds Live were perhaps the last Samsung earbuds that were easily repairable ( though perhaps “easily” is a bit of an exaggeration ). You still need to be careful not to damage the internal components, but accessing the battery doesn’t require any special tools or techniques.
Although iFixit noted in its review six years ago that batteries for the Galaxy Buds Live had become difficult to find online, they are still available today. You can order a set of two CP1254 batteries on Amazon for $19.99 . Not a bad price for keeping your earbuds in good working order. Perhaps this is why refurbished 2020 Galaxy Buds Live are still selling for the same price as modern earbuds. I wouldn’t recommend buying them given their age, but if you’re a Samsung fan and want to keep these earbuds around for a long time, they’re an option.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Eleven
The extremely expensive ($599) Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Eleven headphones do come with replaceable batteries, but there’s a catch: you can’t replace them yourself. Instead, Bang & Olufsen will replace the battery for you if you take the headphones to one of the company’s service centers . This is hardly what you’d expect from a “replaceable battery.” Still, it’s better than what other companies offer for their headphones, so I think the Beoplay Eleven deserves a mention—even if I suspect the market for $600 headphones is probably small.
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Headphones (Coming Soon)
The Sennheiser Momentum 5 headphones aren’t available yet, but they’re the reason I compiled this list. Announced Thursday, the headphones feature replaceable batteries in both the earbuds and the charging case, meaning you can continue using them even if you replace the batteries yourself. Like some other products on this list, these headphones feature a screw-on design instead of adhesive, making maintenance much easier.
Sennheiser says these headphones will be available on September 3rd for $299.95. I’ll update this article as soon as Sennheiser releases more information about these headphones, including where to buy them.
Microsoft Surface Earbuds (discontinued)
The batteries in Microsoft Surface Earbuds are reportedly very easy to replace, as they use a standard coin cell battery. Unfortunately, these earbuds have been discontinued, and finding them is likely to be difficult. However, if you do manage to find a pair or already own one, know that replacing the batteries is relatively straightforward.
It is likely that other headphones with replaceable batteries will appear in the future.
While this list is certainly incomplete today, it will likely grow over time. This isn’t because companies have recognized the problem or even because there’s profit to be made from using replaceable batteries in headphones. Instead, new regulations ( especially from the EU ) are forcing companies to make their devices more energy-efficient. This will likely lead to devices shipping with more easily replaceable batteries, so you won’t have to throw away the entire product when the batteries fail.