Skip to main content

Apple extends AirPods Pro service program by another year

Apple’s AirPods Pro are a top pick when it comes to true wireless earbuds, but some of the earliest units that Apple sold started to experience audio problems. To address these issues, Apple created a service program to fix the busted buds. Initially, that program was meant to cover all AirPods Pro sold prior to October 2020, for a period of two years. Under those terms, some of the earliest AirPods Pro (sold in October 2019) would be about to lose their coverage, but Apple has quietly updated the program and extended its coverage to three years from the date of purchase.

Here are the potential audio problems that are covered by the service program:

  • Crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise, or while talking on the phone.
  • Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) not working as expected, such as a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds like street or airplane noise.
Recommended Videos

If this describes your situation, Apple will take a look at both the left and right earbuds and determine if either (or both) are affected by the problem and will repair or replace them for free.

If you want Apple to check them out, you’ll need to visit an Apple Store or an Apple-authorized repair shop. If neither of these options works for you, Apple says you must contact Apple Support, but it’s not clear if the company will provide a mail-in solution for those who are too far from a physical store, or who may be worried about exposure to COVID-19.

If your AirPods Pro were purchased recently and they aren’t causing you any problems, that’s promising. But don’t throw away this information just yet.

Apple’s free replacement process now lasts three years from the date of purchase, and it’s a worldwide program. The increase from two years to three years suggests that Apple thinks the issues might occur after a period of time, and not necessarily right away. It might not be a bad idea to keep this page bookmarked, or even set a reminder for yourself at the 34-month anniversary of your AirPods Pro purchase, just in case.

While the crackling, static, and ANC issues are the only ones addressed by this repair program, they aren’t the only AirPod concerns we’ve run across. Check out this handy guide to all of the most common AirPods problems and how to fix them.

Simon Cohen
Contributing Editor, A/V
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
In a bizarre twist, AirPods Pro are cheaper in Canada … for now
Apple AirPods Pro 2 inside their charging case.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, it's been impossible to escape the headlines around the new tariffs imposed on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese imports to the U.S. (or the many retaliatory tariffs that these countries have imposed on U.S. products). The expectation is that these tariffs will make certain goods more expensive, regardless where you live. But in a bizarre twist of timing, tariffs, and currency exchange rates, one particularly popular Apple product is cheaper in Canada than in the U.S.: the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple sells the AirPods Pro 2 in the U.S. for $249 and $329 ($CAD) in Canada. A quick look at current currency conversion rates shows that despite the higher number in Canada, that's actually the cheaper of the two prices. According to RBC Bank's currency calculator, if you hold U.S. dollars right now, you can buy $329 CAD for just $236 USD -- a $13-dollar savings.

Read more
Apple is eyeing AirPods with camera and health sensors as a priority
Simon Cohen wearing Apple AirPods 4.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently sat for an interview with Wired and dished on Apple’s focus in the foreseeable future. Health and wellness stood out as a recurring element. AirPods, which recently landed a hearing assistance facility, are visibly at the center of those ambitions. Now, Bloomberg reports that the earbuds will soon add cameras and health sensors to their arsenal.

At one point in time, Apple was reportedly working on integrating cameras into the wireless earbuds, but the project was put on ice. It seems that the recent explosion of AI-based workflows across nearly every product category inspired Apple to revive the endeavor.

Read more
Here’s how Apple’s AirPods Pro hearing assistance stacks up to professional results
Apple's hearing test in iOS 18.1.

Apple made waves when it announced that its AirPods Pro 2, when combined with iOS 18.1, could fulfill the role of OTC hearing aids. Given that OTC hearing aids can often run as much as $1,500, it seemed too good to be true that the same hearing benefits could be had for just $249 or less. Better yet, given the popularity of Apple's wireless earbuds, there's an excellent chance that those who could benefit already own them (if you live in a country where Apple's hearing aid feature has been approved).

So how good are the AirPods Pro 2 as OTC hearing aids?

Read more