I got my AirPods Pro in February 2021. They’ve been my daily drivers for over five years, which, in the world of tiny lithium-ion batteries, is basically ancient history.

Now, the case has finally given up. It doesn't work unless it's plugged into a charger. The moment I pull the cable, it's a brick.

It’s the classic symptom of a completely exhausted battery. If you’re in the same boat, there are a few things you can try before declared it dead, though I wouldn't hold my breath.

1. The Factory Reset: Sometimes the firmware just gets stuck. Put the buds in the case, close the lid for 30 seconds, then open it and hold the setup button on the back for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then white.
2. The Deep Charge: If the battery hit absolute zero, the power management chip might be struggling. Take the buds out, plug the empty case into a wall charger, and leave it alone for two hours.

I tried both. Neither worked. The battery is just chemically finished.

The annoying part? My earbuds themselves were replaced in 2022 because of a microphone issue. They still hold a decent charge and sound fine. But because the case is dead, the whole set is essentially unusable.

Apple doesn't replace these batteries. They just sell you a new case for €100-€120, or tell you to buy the new model.

It’s a distinct sting: holding a perfectly functional piece of engineering that has been rendered a paperweight because of a tiny, non-replaceable pouch of lithium. It’s the dark side of the wireless audio boom, brilliant convenience paired with built-in expiration dates.

I just bought the AirPods Max 2 in April. Knowing that they also have non user-replaceable batteries is... not encouraging.

However, there’s a small silver lining. The Max houses a much larger, traditional headphone battery. It undergoes far fewer charge cycles to deliver the same amount of listening time compared to the tiny cells in the Pro case, which are subjected to aggressive micro-charging every single time you put them away.

The Max should, theoretically, last much longer. But it doesn't change the underlying problem. We’re still buying products with a ticking clock inside.

If you’re stuck with a dead case and functional buds like me, don't pay Apple's tax for a new one. Check the secondhand market for standalone cases or look at reputable third-party chargers. It’s better than letting the whole set become e-waste.

These AirPods Pro have officially graduated to "gym headphones" status. I'll keep the case plugged in at my desk and use them for workouts, where the battery of the buds will still last for a few hours. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than tossing them out.