Apple Quietly Extends AirPods Pro Repair Program ... - MacRumors

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Apple Quietly Extends AirPods Pro Repair Program That Addresses Crackling/StaticWednesday October 13, 2021 3:24 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Back in October of 2020, Apple introduced a service program to address AirPods Pro issues that could cause them to experience static, crackling sounds, or problems with Active Noise Cancellation. At the time, Apple said the program would cover the AirPods Pro for two years after the retail sale of the unit.

Apple has now extended the program, quietly updating the accompanying support document back at the beginning of October. As noted on Reddit, the "Additional Information" section of the page now notes that the program will cover affected AirPods Pro for three years after the first retail sale of the unit, up from the initial two years.

Customers who purchased AirPods at launch in 2019 will now be covered until October 2022 should this issue pop up, and those who bought in 2020 before the repaired version in October 2020 came out can get repairs until 2023.

Faulty AirPods Pro that are in need of repair exhibit the following problems:

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

Affected AirPods were manufactured before October 2020, and those who have AirPods Pro experiencing issues can bring them to Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider for service free of charge. Apple says that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ will be examined prior to service to verify that they're eligible for the program. ‌AirPods Pro‌ earbuds demonstrating the issue (left, right, or both) will be replaced.

The program applies only to the AirPods Pro and not the AirPods or the AirPods Max.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPods[ 133 comments ]

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Top Rated Comments

Mmadcran58 months agoI just had both of my AirPods Pro replaced after failing Apple's audio tests. At first, I thought I was crazy and it was just the noises the AirPods make going in and out of my ears, but soon realized the noise occurred by just moving my head around.Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)dannyyankou58 months agoGood because they didn't fix itScore: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)LLoggerMN58 months ago

Can someone please explain the in store diagnostic test? Is there a piece of test equipment involved or does an employee attempt to hear themselves? I have a very faint crackling noise in one bud that is present when running. Thanks!

They take your earbuds and disappear into the back room. They come out 15 min later and say they're going to replace them. I have no idea what they did, but that's how it went for me. This is the 2nd time mine have been replaced for this.Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)ZZZ9pluralZalpha58 months agoI recently had my launch-week pair replaced because of this, but mine would only start exhibiting the symptoms after about 45 minutes of (usually during exercise) music use, and thus passed the retail stores' diagnostics tests twice. Both times, the staff told me to contact phone support instead, because the mail-in exchange process uses a different test; when I finally heeded their advice, I got the replacement pair within a few days. So if your AirPod Pros only start crackling after some minutes, skip the in-person appointment and just call in!Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)KKaliYoni58 months agoOh, it's the AirPods??? I've been listening to Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, and Neil Young...;-)Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)visualseed58 months ago

No local Apple Store here and the Apple rep said I would have to put a $100 hold on my card for the left ear bud and as bad as carriers were last year I didn't want to risk it getting lost and get charged , the Apple guy said hey if you got a Best Buy they can send them and then you won't have to put the $100 hold on your cardI had both mine replace. Made an appt at Best Buy, a day before my appt the right started crackling. Best Buy Geek Squad put them in some device to test and sent them off and a few days later got a call to come pick up my replacements.

If you do it over the phone they will give you the choice of waiting for a shipping box that you can send back to them with the AirPods and they will then send you back a replacement or pay a deposit (hold on card) and they will send you the replacement with a return box that you can send the bad one back in. I did mine this way and it was 3 day-turn around for the whole process including the release on my card. They used FedEx as the carrier and it seems to be express overnight (morning delivery) both ways and the hold on my card was released within moments of them receiving my package.Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)Read All Comments

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