Roger Fingas
Dealing with a lost AirPod will be an expensive proposition, though still slightly less than half the cost of buying a new pair, according to an updated Apple support document.
Replacing a lost or damaged AirPod — or the charging case — will cost $69 in the U.S., the company says. A complete AirPod set normally retails for $159.
By default the fully wireless headphones come with a one-year warranty, which covers not just audio defects but any battery problems. Outside of this period, standard repairs are $69, while battery service is $49.
Apple launched AirPod sales on Tuesday after a long delay. Whether due to low production numbers, high demand, or both, stock is already in short supply, resulting in six-week shipping delays — longer even than for a top-of-the-line MacBook Pro.
The AirPods feature Apple's W1 wireless chip, which offers extended Bluetooth range, and simpler pairing on Apple devices, including the ability to pair with multiple devices simultaneously. The W1 is also in two of Apple's Beats products, the Solo3 and Powerbeats3, which shipped this fall.
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29 Comments
Now here's one occasion where $69 sounds justified.
Unlike most of the other Schiller pricing decisions these days. I'm reminded one time of a friend from years ago who was learning his trade and a woman in a wealthy neighbourhood ask his boss to quote her a price for a new roof on her house and he said he'd go out to the van and make some calculations (after he looked at her house). So my friend was present in the van and he said the guy thought what this job should cost (a fair price) and when he got that figure he doubled it and then added on a bit. Full sure she might say no, she said, "good, when can you start". Sometimes when I see the price of things coming out of Cupertino these days I imagine Schiller doing the same: fair price, now let's double it and add on a bit: €114 to cover the front and back of an iPad mini 4 in silicone. They should offer a leather Apple Smart Case for this product and it should be €49 (max €59). They don't offer such an option purely out of greed. Same with their phones, the flagship models keep creeping up every year over here and while vat has increased by 2% here the $ is far more valuable toward the euro than it was a few years back. My sister asked me if I was getting an iPhone 7 (did you see the new iPhone? Are you getting one?) and I laughed out loud. Starts at €779—almost an €800 starting price here. /rant
When the AirPods are paired with multiple devices simultaneously, how do they decide which device takes priority? Can the user override the default prioritization? How?
I assume only one device at a time can stream content to the AirPods.
I have a feeling I am missing something basic here: how does this prevent someone from abusing the system, i.e., claiming their AirPods + Charger have been lost, then asking for a new one of both which costs less than $159 (the replacement cost for both together is $69×2 = $138).
Fair price.
Might not really be worth it from Apple's perspective to put together an AppleCare+ plan for AirPods.
Might not really be worth it from the end-users' perspective even if Apple did have AppleCare+ for AirPods.