John is a writer at Pocket-lint. He is passionate about all things technology, and is always keeping up with the latest smartphone and PC releases. John has previously written at MobileSyrup. When he’s not reading and writing about tech, he enjoys listening to history podcasts and watching documentaries.
AirPods are pretty remarkable. When they first hit the scene back in 2016, they single-handedly revolutionized the on-the-go audio sector of the tech market, ushering in the era of true wireless earbuds. While initially lambasted for their peculiar external appearance, these days they're ubiquitous (with their stem design often copied wholesale by other manufacturers).
AirPods is now a major brand name in its own right, to the point where the accessory business alone would rival many Fortune 500 companies if it were to break away from Apple (via Forbes). In 2026, there are a variety of AirPods models to choose from, including the base edition, the in-ear Pro variant, and even the over-ear AirPods Max model.
For as great as AirPods are from a convenience and sound quality perspective, they do suffer from one glaring flaw: they're not exactly built to last. With small, non-user-accessible battery cells packed into each earbud, as well as into the charging case itself, chemical degradation and therefore shorter battery life is an absolute long-term inevitability.
What's more is that, by virtue of being something you wear in your ear, AirPods tend to suffer from being gunked up with earwax over time. If left unchecked, this can cause various performance issues, or even result in damaged earbud units over time. This is far from an ideal situation, not only because AirPods are pricy peripherals, but also because discarded models contribute to e-waste.
AirPods aren't built to last
That being said, you can extend their lifespan significantly
The good news is that it's more than possible to extend the (otherwise somewhat limited) lifespan of your AirPods, sometimes by as much as multiple years. The battery longevity issue can be tackled by attempting to keep your AirPods charged about half way, without leaving them totally discharged or fully charged to one hundred percent for extended periods of time (doing so strains the chemistry of the battery cells found within AirPods).
More pragmatically, you can take the measure of regularly cleaning your AirPods to keep them in tip-top condition now and well into the future. I'd recommend cleaning the gadget with a cotton swab, toothpicks, and some isopropyl rubbing alcohol at least once a week in order to stop the build up of wax in its tracks. Of course, be sure not to go overboard with the rubbing alcohol -- a heavy-handed approach could damage the gadget's delicate internals.
By keeping your AirPods clean, you're not only maintaining the best-possible hygiene, but also upkeeping the hardware itself. Wax and earbuds don't get along too well from an acoustic perspective, so removing the former is highly, highly recommended on the whole.
By sterilizing your AirPods and removing wax, as well as by maintaining battery health through avoiding extreme charging depletion or replenishment, your Apple-branded true wireless earbuds should last longer than they otherwise would. These same tips apply to non-Apple true wireless earbuds, too, whether we're talking about Samsung Galaxy Buds, OnePlus Buds, Nothing Ear buds, or just about any other make and model.
The Earth will thank you
Saving the planet from e-waste devastation
Aside from saving money on replacement buds, you're also helping the environment by reducing e-waste when extending the life of your AirPods. True wireless earbuds are notoriously hard to recycle thanks to their sealed-in lithium-ion batteries, their tiny circuit boards, and their miniature speakers.
In other words, disposing of AirPods contributes to the millions of tonnes of e-waste produced each and every year, a figure sourced from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
What's for certain is that your AirPods won't last forever, but extending their lifespan is more than possible, and it's something that'll have a positive impact on the environment. When it is time to dispose of your buds, don't throw them out in the trash -- rather, drop them off at a certified local e-waste depo, or consider trading them in at your local Apple Store.