You know the drill: new Apple product, new iFixit teardown. Here’s what they found when they dug into the new AirPods Max 2.
Largely unchanged innards, for better or for worse
Depending on who you ask, the fact that Apple didn’t change anything about the design of the new AirPods Max 2 is either a non-issue or a hugely missed opportunity.
Regardless of where you stand, the fact is that Apple decided to keep the design of its over-the-year headphones untouched this time around, while updating the hardware with highly anticipated additions such as the H2 chip. You can read more about what’s new with the AirPods Max 2 in our review, published earlier this week.
In the past, even when Apple kept a product’s external design unchanged, it still reworked the internals. So with several first-generation AirPods Max owners reporting condensation issues, and the company’s recent pivot to more repair-friendly products, iFixit was curious to see what the AirPods Max 2 had in store.
As it turns out, not that much.
In a video released earlier today, iFixit uses its teardown manual for the first-generation AirPods Max, and is perfectly able to disassemble the new device.
On the bright side, this means that repair tools and even some internal components might be interchangeable, which is a welcome development from the e-waste reduction standpoint.
However, iFixit notes that Apple continues to rely heavily on adhesive throughout the earcups, making disassembly more challenging and increasing the risk of damaging internal cables during repairs.
The teardown also points out that, despite the relatively modular internal layout, Apple still does not provide replacement parts or repair manuals for the AirPods Max lineup.
Finally, the teardown shows that while the USB-C port is replaceable, getting to it requires removing much of the internal assembly first, making what should be a straightforward repair far more finicky than it should be.
Watch the teardown of the new AirPods Max 2 below:
Do you think Apple should have made more changes to the AirPods Max 2? Let us know in the comments.
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