I got my broken AirPods Pro replaced for free, here's how

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I got my cleaved AirPods Pro replaced for gratuitous, here's how

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

I loved my AirPods Pro, until they started to break while I was on vacation. I don't know how it happened — I have proper, frail care of them — even if they roughshod out of my grasp and striking the flooring at least a few times. I'1000 only man.

But my enjoyment of the $249 AirPods Pro started to wearable off when they inexplicably started clicking. Especially as I was walking around the dominicus-drenched strip of Las Vegas, trying to relax to the new Lorde album's breezy tunes.

And then when I got home, I went online with Apple customer support, and went through a semi laborious set of prompts. And the result of that call was not expert.

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After a series of troubleshooting tests (unpairing, resetting, repairing and more than), and taking my serial number, the agent began to get me into a repair. Knowing my AirPods Pro were likely out of Apple'due south warranty plan window, I then asked if the agent could check my warranty condition. He confirmed my suspicion, and I began to caryatid myself for a steep price.

A very high appraisement

This is where things seemingly fell into an alternate reality. The repair price, he said, was $278.67. And since I knew how much AirPods Pro cost ($249 from Apple and $271.x after NYC taxes, or currently $189 from Amazon), I responded with a scrap of shock. "For one earbud?" I typed back at the rep. "Why wouldn't I just buy a new pair or a new bud ($89) at that point?" I would after acquire exactly why — this rep was giving me an incorrect judge.

(Image credit: Apple/Henry T. Casey)

The rep replied "I certainly empathise [your] concern," before explaining the why of it all. The cost of repairs, you see, entail work for diagnosis and repair, and that adds upwards. And so I asked most the pricing for the replacement buds, and told the amanuensis I'd sleep on it.

A new hope arrived

Then my friend Chris, who I often see at the subway platform near my favorite theater, replied online with what might be the answer to my prayers. It turns out that there'southward an AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues.

If you oasis't heard, Apple determined that "a small pct of AirPods Pro may experience audio issues. Afflicted units were manufactured before October 2020." And mine were most certainly earlier that engagement. In that location'due south no real way to bank check that date online, only you're going to demand to requite Apple your serial number for them to check. If your AirPods are paired, become to Settings > Bluetooth > tap the 'i' adjacent to your AirPods, and await for the series number. If y'all tin can't pair them, open your AirPods case, and then open the Magnifier app on your phone. Using the viewfinder, expect for the series number inside the hat of your AirPods case.

(Image credit: Regan Coule/Future)

The program is for AirPods Pro that take "Crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with practice or while talking on the telephone" and/or "Active Noise Cancellation non working as expected, such as a loss of bass audio, or an increase in background sounds, such as street or plane dissonance."

And my AirPods definitely qualify for the showtime of those two bug. And then I fabricated a quick telephone call to Apple to explain all of this, setting upwardly a drop-off at my local Apple tree store later. At said Apple shop, the incredibly helpful Lauren cleared everything up and got me out of the store with brand new AirPods Pro that I didn't pay for.

Lauren ran a diagnostic on my AirPods Pro to discover that both buds, non just the right ane, qualified for replacement. She and then gave me replacement buds, and I was on my manner.

Before I left, I inquired almost the price of a repair. Information technology turns out that the online agent was incorrect. Lauren told me that a repair of an AirPod Pro earbud is $89 plus revenue enhancement. You know, the same price as buying a new 1.

What yous should do with broken AirPods

If y'all're in warranty, simply go to Apple tree and have it taken care of. If non? Check to run across if your AirPods were made before October 2020, and and so contact Apple tree most the service programme. And if they claim that repairing i AirPod volition cost as much equally repairing the whole thing, ask to speak to someone else.

When it costs the same price to buy or repair a product being the aforementioned, I start to wonder about waste. Well-nigh people might just buy the new ane and replace it and motion on. I'd wish they chose another choice.

(Epitome credit: Hereafter)

Apple will recycle AirPods, though the process of how they do this raises a lot of questions, as Will Oremus discovered. Apple tree's looking into improving its recycling abilities, and explained and then in 2019 with the Daisy recycling robot.

Well-nigh impressively, there'due south PodSwap, which will replace dying batteries from regular AirPods for a $60 fee and send them dorsum to you, so yous're not letting them go to waste product. Just PodSwap only covers batteries, and simply for AirPods, not AirPods Pro.

Mayhap with products this impossibly small, information technology's impossible to become things right. I just ask that you call back twice (a few times, even) about how to properly dispose of your AirPods if they stop working right. They're really bully, merely little things stack up fast when it comes to waste.

• Read next: All of the AirPods iii rumors

Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple tree, reviewing devices and services for the by half dozen-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional person wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/i-got-my-broken-airpods-pro-replaced-for-free-heres-how

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