Old AirPods still have uses, and a new battery costs less than new ones

Old AirPods do not have to end up in a drawer or the trash. If the battery is the only problem, Apple will swap it for $49 per earbud, or $98 for a pair. New AirPods Pro cost $249. Apple also advises against throwing AirPods away, because of the lithium-ion batteries inside.

What a battery swap costs

Apple does not open AirPods to change the battery the way it does with an iPhone. It recycles your old ones and gives you new ones, at a lower price per earbud. For most AirPods that is $49 per earbud. For AirPods Max headphones, a battery replacement is $79, compared with $549 for a new pair.

When it may be free

• With AppleCare, a battery below 80 percent of its original capacity may be replaced for free.
• If a battery fails while the AirPods are under warranty, Apple replaces them for free.
• Independent shops can do it, but they cut the AirPods open and glue them shut.

A repair shop may save money. The AirPods will not look as good as new, and they lose their water and sweat resistance.

Lost a piece?

Apple sells single earbuds and cases. For the Pro line, an earbud is $89 and a case is $99. For standard AirPods, a bud is $69 and a case is $59 to $79. That usually makes sense for AirPods Pro, but less so for base models. The latest AirPods 5 cost $129 from Apple, and other stores often sell them for a little less.

Other ways to use them

• Sell them. Apple gives no trade-in credit, but Back Market pays something. eBay or Facebook Marketplace usually pays more.
• Pass them on to a friend or relative. Clean them, remove them from your Apple account and add new ear tips.
• Keep them as a backup, for the gym, for sleeping, or for listening to a Roku at night over Bluetooth.

If they are truly dead

Apple recycles AirPods for free. You do not need to visit an Apple Store, because Apple provides a prepaid shipping label in certain regions. You will not be paid, but the batteries are handled properly.