The dream of AirPods with removable batteries is still seemingly out of reach, and it’s all because of a new EU ruling

The European Union is working on rules for technical repairs…
… except that some ‘wet appliances’ are now exempt
This places ‘body worn devices’ in a very gray area…
…and yes, that probably means AirPods

E-waste worriers (and warriors) like me have been watching with delight the creation of EU rules, as a selection of them will require technology manufacturers to put replaceable or repairable batteries in their gadgets. But now there are a few new important exceptions to the rule.

Some major new clarifications listed on the European Commission’s website dampen the positive impact of replaceable, upgradeable technology. These exemptions mean that wearables, including smartwatches and fitness trackers, don’t need to be repairable — and I find it ironic that these are exactly the kinds of gadgets you’re more likely to throw out and replace rather than try to repair.

The EU has moved these products to its “wet appliances” category, for gadgets that cannot be kept serviceable for safety reasons (ie because they handle water). However, no reason was given as to why wearables, especially those not designed for wet use (based on IP ratings), are now exempt.

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While the EU’s rule change doesn’t actually mention AirPods (or earphones in general), the wording is essentially that wireless earphones, Apple watches and smart glasses also supposedly fall under this specific wearable category. Smart glasses, to put it bluntly, are really not designed for wet use – but their wearer can, for example, get caught in a rainstorm by accident.

There are two important pieces of information about the classification of small devices that are exempt from complying with the EU battery rules, as published in the latest guidelines. The first is that “Wearable devices are wearable electronic devices that are worn on the body and often have sensors and connectivity options to collect and transmit data. Examples of wearables include smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses or other electronic devices integrated into clothing and other accessories”.

The other one? It has to do with those IP ratings for water and dust ingress, and whether the addition of a replaceable battery “compromises safety”. It states that if “there is evidence in the product documentation when marketing the product that end-user battery replaceability and removability would compromise the safety of the user or device”, the product may be exempted.

So your AirPods 4 with ANC probably no longer need to have replaceable batteries due to the EU, including the case itself.

An apple a day keeps e-waste away

AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max arranged together on a desk

(Image credit: Future)

It’s no secret that e-waste is a massive problem: according to the UN, the amount of discarded electronics we produce is increasing five times faster than our ability to recycle it.

That’s why the EU recently pushed through regulations to ensure the technology can be repaired. A pair of headphones that break may just need a new battery; you don’t have to buy a whole new pair.

Apple users have been begging for removable batteries in iOS devices, especially AirPods, as we argued back in 2024. AirPods are the best-selling earbuds in the world (and it’s not even close), so anyway some of them end up in landfills when they stop working, despite Apple’s belief in recycling everything returned to its stores (Apple offers no trade-in value for AirPods, but returning them for recycling is free).

I think it’s important for all technology to be repairable (see B&O’s long-standing ‘Cradle to Cradle’ approach, even buying back and refurbishing his own kit, to give it a new lease of life), but doubly so for the ubiquitous kind.

Apple’s way is, of course, a viable way to keep your eco credentials while discarding unwanted buds, but it’s not best way. It would be replaceable batteries, small and fiddly though that might be – and it’s possible because Fairphone has been doing it for a while.

According to the mantra drilled into school children: reduce, recycle, recycle, in that order. Reusing old earphones, by repairing them, is much better for the environment than recycling them, so it’s a shame that the EU gives exemptions like candy.

If you have any broken tech, whether it’s headphones, earphones or something else entirely, a repair is always your first port of call before discarding your existing ones. It’s cheaper and faster than buying new technology, and most importantly, it’s better for the planet. And if you need to buy new tech, consider online or brick-and-mortar repair shops like Back Market, which repair other people’s gadgets.