EU loophole could keep AirPods sealed shut

New EU repairability rules were supposed to push manufacturers toward replaceable or repairable batteries, but fresh guidance has carved out a notable exception: wearables. That creates a gray area that will likely cover products such as AirPods, Apple Watch, fitness trackers, and even smart glasses.

According to clarifications published on the European Commission website, some products can be exempt if they fall under the bloc’s “wet appliances” category, meaning devices where battery removability could compromise safety. The guidance defines wearables as portable electronic devices worn on the body, often with sensors and connectivity, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, and electronics built into clothing or accessories.

A second key test is whether product documentation shows that end-user battery replaceability or removability would compromise the safety of the user or the appliance. If so, the device may be exempt. While the wording does not name AirPods or earbuds directly, the broad wearable classification means wireless earbuds would likely qualify, including the charging case.

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That matters because e-waste keeps climbing. The United Nations says discarded electronics are increasing five times faster than the world’s ability to recycle them. The original promise of repairability rules was simple: a product with a dead battery should not have to be thrown away.

For Apple, the issue is especially visible. AirPods are described here as the best-selling earbuds in the world, and while Apple will recycle returned pairs for free, it offers no trade-in value for AirPods. Critics argue that recycling is still a weaker outcome than repair and reuse. As the familiar hierarchy goes: reduce, reuse, recycle.

The article points to companies such as Fairphone and Bang & Olufsen as examples that have taken repairability and refurbishment more seriously. The practical takeaway is unchanged even if the law has softened: repair first, replace later.

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