# Don’t throw away your old AirPods — do this instead

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/dont-throw-away-your-old-airpods-do-this-instead/
- Published: 2026-11-03T19:41:16+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2300435/dont-throw-away-old-airpods-do-this-instead/
- Topics: Gadgets

## Key points

- Battery service can cost less than buying new AirPods.
- Keep working earbuds as spares or pass them on.
- Apple recycles unwanted AirPods for free.

## Summary

Apple advises against throwing old AirPods in the bin because they contain lithium-ion batteries. If the main issue is battery life, replacing them through Apple may cost less than buying a new pair, allowing the earbuds to be kept as backups or passed on to someone else.

Apple does not open AirPods to replace their batteries; it recycles the old buds and supplies replacements for a fee. Battery service costs $49 per earbud for most models and $79 for AirPods Max, while AppleCare may cover batteries below 80 per cent capacity. Other options include selling or giving away working AirPods, using them for exercise or as spares, and sending unusable ones to Apple for free recycling.

## Coverage

- [Engadget: Don’t throw away your old AirPods — do this instead](https://www.engadget.com/2300435/dont-throw-away-old-airpods-do-this-instead/)
- [Engadget: Don't throw away your laptop's old SSDs — do this instead](https://www.engadget.com/2300270/dont-throw-away-your-laptop-old-ssd-do-this-instead/)

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.