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                    Refresh Your Old AirPods with a Podswap

   Jeff Carlson

   I knew the honeymoon with my AirPods was ending when I discovered I
   could watch only part of a movie before I had to pause and recharge the
   wireless buds. To be fair, that honeymoon lasted three years, so I
   can't complain much that a pair of minuscule rechargeable batteries
   would no longer hold a charge after nearly daily use over that time.

   Everything else about the AirPods worked fine, but with the battery
   lasting 30 minutes or less, there wasn't much point in using them.

   I had assumed the AirPods would join my old iSight camera in the Drawer
   of Dead Tech until I learned about [1]Podswap, a woman-owned business
   that refurbishes old AirPods with new batteries and sells them for less
   than a new set. Since I was already waiting for a sale on a new pair of
   AirPods, I decided to try Podswap instead.

   Here's how it works: for $59.99, you order a pair of reconditioned,
   Apple-genuine AirPods that [2]match the model you own. It's just the
   earbuds themselves, not the charger, which you keep. The company
   doesn't yet offer swaps for the AirPods Pro but is looking into that
   for the future. If you lost an AirPod at some point, you can pay $89.99
   to return your one straggler and receive a new pair. If your AirPods
   have other issues, such as water damage or audio crackling, that
   prevent them from being fixed by a battery swap, Podswap can recycle
   them for you for a $4.99 shipping cost.

   I ordered a replacement pair on 19 March 2021 and, to my surprise, had
   them in hand mid-day on 22 March. The box was larger than I would have
   expected from a company that's touting its service as a way to reduce
   waste, but it's going right back to them, and I suspect that size may
   be easier to ship than a smaller package.

   The AirPods themselves were tucked into two bubble wrap pouches and
   enclosed in plastic-sealed tubes, with barcodes for Podswap's tracking.

   The new AirPods didn't have much charge to them, so I placed them into
   my charger case and left them overnight. The delivery notification
   email from Podswap notes that it 'can take 3'4 charging cycles in your
   case to reach full battery performance.'

   Once charged, I paired them to my iPhone and listened to music and
   podcasts for 3 hours, just like when my AirPods were new, and they
   still had 70% battery life left.

   Once the replacements arrive, you have 5 days to pop your set into the
   mail using the same packaging with a prepaid label. If you miss that
   5-day window, you'll be charged $49.99.

   To be clear, Podswap doesn't actually recondition and return your
   particular AirPods'that would take longer and require additional
   tracking. Instead, you receive someone else's old pair with a new set
   of batteries. In [3]writing about the service, iFixIt made a special
   request to get the same set back to verify the company's claims that
   it's actually replacing batteries and not just swapping units; Podswap
   made an exception for them. (And yes, the battery swapping involves
   'specialized equipment and precision robotics,' in a 'somewhat
   automated process.')

   Podswap makes it clear that the set you receive might have minor
   scratches or wear and tear, but the company also points out that every
   pair undergoes 'ultrasonic micro-removal suction of dirt and organic
   debris, medical-grade solution treatment, and industrial-grade low
   temperature sterilization.' In other words, you're not sharing someone
   else's earwax.

   Overall, I'm delighted by the Podswap experience and happy I can get
   new life out of my original investment, even if it requires two
   different physical units. My ears won't know the difference, but I'll
   appreciate not having to interrupt the next movie I watch.

References

   Visible links
   1. https://www.thepodswap.com/
   2. https://www.thepodswap.com/pages/how-do-i-know-which-airpod-generation-i-have
   3. https://www.ifixit.com/News/49433/two-college-roommates-and-some-robots-how-podswap-replaces-airpod-batteries

   Hidden links:
   4. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2021/04/Podswap-1.jpg
   5. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2021/04/Podswap-3-1.jpg
   6. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2021/04/Podswap-2.jpg

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