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AirPods 2 Teardown

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Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#51

Post by coldtea »

yoodenvranx wrote: post #45

How can anyone in their right mind claim that Apple is a 'green' company? In 5-10 years we will have 10s of million dead and useless AirPods due to degraded and broken batteries. So much unnecessary e-waste!

In 5-10 years we'd have the same number of "million dead and useless AirPods" even if they had replaceable batteries, because by that time we'd have the next model with new features, design, etc.

The green thing is not to expect a company like Apple to merely add batteries, but to not consume as much, and to get stuff that works long term and is not prone to such improvements (e.g. a good old pair of high quality wired cans you keep for decades). Of course they keep removing stuff like the headphones jack too. In my idea government, that move would incur a hefty environmental fine by itself.

The "Apple is Green" etc, is environment-theater, as is "recycling".

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#52

Post by Wowfunhappy »

snaky wrote: post #34
mikestew wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what, plausibly, do you think they might be doing? It's LifeHacker, consider the source: https://lifehacker.com/how-to-recycle-your-airpods-183357932... "In a phone conversation, an Apple spokesperson confirmed that these AirPods are then distributed to recyclers who specialize in electronic waste along with instructions on how to break apart the components."

Then they appear at Aliexpress with fresh batteries for half the price.

From the teardown, it doesn't seem possible to replace an airpod's battery without destroying it.

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#53

Post by prolepunk »

frou_dh wrote: post #47
prolepunk wrote: post #41

Earbud holder is a strange place to put a wireless charging dock -- I always thought there are two prongs that get magnetically attached to charging ports. Inductive charging is only about 60% efficient, so in theory you only get 398*0.6=238.8mAh of charge, which is a little bit more than a single full recharge of 2x93mAh earbuds.

It's never been the buds themselves that charge wirelessly. Qi charging can top up the case, which itself then tops up the buds via direct contact while everything is packed up in your pocket.

You are right, wireless charging chip is only present on the case.

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#54

Post by swah »

coldtea wrote: post #50
swah wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You just made a great point for wired headphones that I have never considered...

Audio cutting out? Isn't that the automatic #1 consideration point for wired vs wireless headphones?

Maybe its luck, but I finally found a wireless mouse and BT headphones that I haven't got anything to complain about. Around 5 years ago I made the same test and came back to wired versions.

I suppose AirPods, with that price tag, must be much better.

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#55

Post by okcando »

yoodenvranx wrote: post #45

How can anyone in their right mind claim that Apple is a 'green' company? In 5-10 years we will have 10s of million dead and useless AirPods due to degraded and broken batteries. So much unnecessary e-waste!

Were people not going to use wireless headphones had Apple not given us AirPods? They all have batteries limiting their lifespans and are generally not easily repaired.

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#56

Post by clueless »

SkyPuncher wrote: post #30
jaxbot wrote: post #2

My main interest is in Bluetooth 5. Walking around NYC, in even semi-congested areas of Manhattan, my audio cuts out with my phone in my front pants pocket. I literally have to hold it in my hand or coat pocket in order to cut through the interference. Has anyone experienced improvement when upgrading in this regard?

Does it matter what side the phone is on? I keep my phone in my right pocket, but my bluetooth headphones have the transmitter on the left side. Even in my suburban backyard (mowing the lawn), they'll occasionally cut out when my body interferes too much. Every now and then, it'll get bad enough that I'll move my phone to my other pocket.

This ^. I've come to the same exact solution. which is weird as you'd think apple would have run into this issue themselves and fixed it before release

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#57

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

yoodenvranx wrote: post #45

How can anyone in their right mind claim that Apple is a 'green' company? In 5-10 years we will have 10s of million dead and useless AirPods due to degraded and broken batteries. So much unnecessary e-waste!

It's a good point. And the concomitant packaging and freight requirements.

It'd be good to see a "10,000,000 AirPods is the equivalent of" various other things.

How many AirPods would you need to recycle to have enough metal / plastic / battery material to build an electric car, for example.

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#58

Post by Wowfunhappy »

coldtea wrote: post #51
yoodenvranx wrote: post #45

How can anyone in their right mind claim that Apple is a 'green' company? In 5-10 years we will have 10s of million dead and useless AirPods due to degraded and broken batteries. So much unnecessary e-waste!

In 5-10 years we'd have the same number of "million dead and useless AirPods" even if they had replaceable batteries, because by that time we'd have the next model with new features, design, etc. The green thing is not to expect a company like Apple to merely add batteries, but to not consume as much, and to get stuff that works long term and is not prone to such improvements (e.g. a good old pair of high quality wir…

> In 5-10 years we'd have the same number of "million dead and useless AirPods" even if they had replaceable batteries, because by that time we'd have the next model with new features, design, etc.

Earbuds aren't cell phones—there's not a lot you can add. You can improve audio quality but that happens at a slow pace, and much of the public doesn't care.

I don't think all that many people would rush to replace a $200 product after two years if the original had a longer usable life.

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#59

Post by stronglikedan »

pfranz wrote: post #40
stronglikedan wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure if it's the same phenomenon, but I have to keep my phone in the front pocket on the same side as the BT receiver to completely avoid choppy audio, and that's when I'm walking completely alone with no one in visible distance. EDIT: I'm referring to the BT 5 protocol in general, and not specifically AirPods. I've tried a few devices where I've experienced this.

How does that work with AirPods? My understanding is that both are receivers and they communicate with each other for sync.

Oh, sorry, I should have been more clear. I was referring to the BT 5 protocol, specifically, as that's what the comment I was replying to mentioned. I have this problem with all the BT 5 devices I've tried.

Re: AirPods 2 Teardown

#60

Post by imagiko »

How are those battery terminals connected to the logic board - it has no connector header, just flat leads? Hard to keep up with miniaturization of connectors!
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