As a careful buyer, durability is one of the aspects you look out for before making a purchase. If you have your eyes on a new pair of AirPods, you may have questions about how long-lasting they are and how well they can handle dropping off heights.
So, can your AirPods break if you drop them? Usually, AirPods remain intact and will not break when they fall off a considerable height (up to ten feet, according to drop testers). Apple has carefully designed them using the best materials to maintain their structure. They have a rigid plastic coat that keeps the internal systems safe, and they are lightweight to resist breaking during impact. However, users still have cases of them getting damaged, especially when the force is extreme, or they fall too frequently.
It is essential to know all the potential factors that can ruin your AirPod and its case to avoid losses. AirPods are wireless gadgets, explaining why they may fall off at some point, regardless of how careful you are. Since some electronics are very fragile, you may have concerns about what happens if you accidentally drop the buds.
Generally, AirPods cannot break when you accidentally drop them. According to drop testers, they will remain intact even when they crash from 10 feet high. The internal components have a rigid plastic covering to keep the parts safe from any form of abuse. It also helps that they are lightweight, conveniently bouncing off when they drop. However, there are still cases of the AirPods getting damaged internally, especially if it happens frequently.
Dropping AirPods is inevitable due to their wireless design, and Apple was aware of this from the design stages. Unlike wired alternatives, these buds don’t have cables to save them from sliding off your ears to the ground.
It makes sense if you are a new user and are worried about the earbuds surviving a fall. Besides, these gadgets are quite an investment with a hefty price tag, and nobody would want to spend that much on a product that easily breaks.
Thankfully, Apple factored this in the AirPods’ design to guarantee durability. Their wireless nature is their selling point since they are mobile and easy to store, but the feature also makes them susceptible to falling unexpectedly, especially during use.
Although Apple has not officially stated that AirPods are immune to damages due to crashing, you can establish their durability by closely looking at their design, from the weight to the construction material.
They are very lightweight, not only for convenience but also to prevent them from breaking. This ensures that when they hit the ground, the force is significantly reduced, which reduces the chances of the internal components falling apart. As a result, they bounce when they contact the ground with low resistance, reducing the impact effect.
Secondly, the internal and external construction components make the AirPod more robust. They come with a sturdy plastic coat that is long-lasting and thick to protect the internal parts of the earbuds.
It keeps them intact from the harsh everyday use while not being too heavy for the user. Testers on the internet prove that the AirPods are unbreakable even from a 10-meter height, meaning that you don’t need to worry when they slip off your ear.
On the downside, the AirPods also have their breaking point, and some users have reported this. It may be a case of bad luck, poor maintenance, or frequent falling, but either way, the AirPod can get scratched or the internal components can get damaged.
For one, the height of the drop contributes to the extent of the impact and the level of crashing. While they may be intact when they fall from a small distance or collide with a soft surface, they may easily break when it is a massive drop, say of more than ten feet. Your buds may not show any signs of breaking externally, but force may damage the internal components.
There are chances that the antenna, mic, speakers, and other parts have crashed due to a massive fall, even when the case looks fine. The force can tear some components apart or make them loose, interfering with their everyday operations.
Therefore, it is advisable to immediately pair and use the AirPods to know whether there are changes in their performance. Take note if they are taking too long to connect or the sound emitted has sudden glitches on one side.
Will the AirPod Case Break if Dropped?
AirPods are tiny wireless gadgets, but it helps that they come with a charging and storage case for safe-keeping. If you are not using the buds for music or calls, you probably have them tucked inside their enclosure. After extensively discussing the durability of the AirPods, it is also essential to know how the case handles falling since it is also a crucial component.
Like the AirPods, the case is durable enough to withstand dropping from great heights and will not break. The two are of the same robust, lightweight plastic material that remains intact regardless of the impact with the ground. Moreover, the case always keeps the AirPods safe inside, thanks to the extra protective layer and the tight closing design that keeps them from slipping out. However, the pods’ case may fall from a greater height and get scuffs or cosmetic damages in some instances.
The case is an essential component of Apple’s AirPods. Besides charging, it is also an excellent way to keep the tiny plugs intact, safe, and easy to transport since you can easily misplace them.
It explains why most users always have their pods inside the case when not in use, entirely relying on the enclosure for protection. If the chamber is fragile, it means that it may fall, interfering with its charging capabilities while risking your AirPods.
The good news is that the AirPods are sturdy enough to withstand dropping, identical to the AirPods, and you can rest easy knowing that they will not easily break. It is lightweight, durable, high-grade plastic that is not fragile even when falling from several feet. As a result, the case offers the earbuds all the protection they need.
Besides, the lid is snug enough, preventing the pods from falling off and damaging in the process. They will still be protected even when the force is too much to fall off the case. All this is thanks to Apple’s emphasis on durability, evident by their excellent products.
Regardless, it is still essential to keep the enclosure safe from frequent dropping because there are still chances that they may scratch from constant contact with hard surfaces. With time, these effects may interfere with the AirPods’ sound quality.
What Happens if You Drop Your AirPods or Case?
The AirPods and the case are a perfect pair, as you need the case for charging and storing the pods. Therefore, you wouldn’t want to damage them, primarily due to crashing. If you are a new user and wish to always keep them safe, you may want to know what would happen if they fell.
If the drop is too high or the damage too severe to the AirPods or the case, you can expect distorted sounds, charging issues, broken parts, dead systems, charging complications, and interference with the general performance. The case may also fall and get scratches or tear apart, depending on the extent of the impact. However, the situation may worsen if the AirPods or case falls in water because prolonged contact with liquids can cause it to short circuit.
Inevitably, there are chances that you may drop the AirPods or their cases on a hard surface or water, and the impact can be severe, causing breakage or shutdown. If the earplugs fall on the floor from a distance of more than four meters, the chances are high that they won’t survive the impact even when it looks fine from outside. You will know the effect of the fall once you try using the AirPods or place them in the case for charging or link it to the iPhone.
The AirPods might fail to charge or fail to produce sound if the impact was extreme. If the dock falls off a great height, you may immediately notice damages on its surface, but if you don’t see any cracks, the ultimate test would be powering it and checking that its charging lights are on before inserting the AirPods. If working usually, it will ascertain that the impact was not adverse, and you can keep using them.
Conversely, if the case and earpiece aren’t working, you can try reconnecting the earplugs and restarting the case a few times before making conclusions. If the system is still dead, you can call Apple Support for guidance on the next step to take. Meanwhile, it is best to avoid dismantling the case or the AirPods while fixing them.
On the downside, the tune is different when you drop the dock or the earbuds in a pool. Although they are water-resistance to wetness, they can be severely damaged when they drop inside water. When this happens, it is necessary to pick the pods up immediately and dry them quickly with a clean cloth. After a few hours, your case and earbuds should be running as usual. Otherwise, if they stay in water for too long, the wetness may contact the terminals and lead to short-circuiting.
How Do You Fix a Dropped AirPod?
AirPods are pretty costly, unlike regular earbuds, and it is understandable that you cherish them and want to keep them safe. They may be durable, but there are isolated cases where they may take a massive hit, affecting their structure or ability to function. The following tips may help if the unfortunate happens to you.
To fix a dropped AirPod, first, you can contact Apple Support and book an appointment, but there are some trouble-shooting hacks you can use before you call them. You could start by thoroughly cleaning up the earbud to eliminate wax, dust, and dirt to help improve the sound quality if the fall affected it. You can also restart the AirPods to ensure that they function as usual. If none of these steps help, your last resort would be to contact Apple.
Apple designed the AirPods with a robust casing that cannot easily break from minor falls. For instance, if it contacts a hard surface by falling from your ears, you can pick it up and use it as usual as it will remain intact.
The only problem is if the pods drop and you mistakenly step on them. If they fall and you are uncertain of the internal damages, it is advisable to check whether it is still charging when you put it back in the case.
You can tether it to the iPhone to confirm how it works if it powers. If everything is in order, you will be confident that the device is safe and unaffected by the impact. Otherwise, you will notice that the audio quality is low, or the earplugs will fail to work. It would be the best time to call AppleCare for further assistance. The buds are too tiny for any in-home fixing and can even get additional damages if you dismantle them.
When there are damages to the AirPods, Apple encourages users to gather their purchase documents and the device’s serial number and take them with their broken AirPods to the Apple center or call the Apple Support team. The AirPods details may be available at the bottom of the case, or you can confirm from the settings when you reconnect the earbuds to your phone.
The proof of purchase and serial number will be on the open window. The fees that Apple will charge you for repair or replacement will depend on the cause of the breakage and the warranty period. To avoid the extra costs, it is best to always keep the AirPods safe by being cautious while using them, and it is best to keep them enclosed in their case if you are not using them.
Wrap Up
The AirPods are quite an investment and they offer a convenient way to listen to music, watch movies, or make calls. Even when you are not clumsy, the buds and case will inevitably fall at some point. Luckily, all evidence shows that they are durable enough to resist breakage when they drop off a height of up to ten feet. All this is thanks to the sturdy construction material and lightweight design.
However, frequent falling may lead to scratch marks, and severe drops can cause breakage or internal issues. When this happens, you can expect distorted sounds or breakdowns. Therefore, it is advisable always to be careful when using the pods and keep them safe in their case when you are done with them.
