Even if you paid several hundred euros for them, your magnificent Bluetooth headphones will be unusable after a few years because of a component that wears out naturally and cannot be repaired!
Since they appeared on the market, and particularly since the arrival of the famous Apple AirPods, wireless headphones have replaced their wired counterparts for many users. And for good reason: these audio devices that work with Bluetooth technology have many advantages, starting obviously with the absence of a wire which allows appreciable freedom of movement when using them.
Small and light, they are also very pleasant to wear, including when you are moving around or when practicing a sporting activity. In addition, they prove very practical on a daily basis with their touch controls and their multiple functions – notably noise reduction which allows you to easily isolate yourself without suffering from hearing damage. And some models – often the most expensive, but not only – offer very good sound quality, whether for listening to music or making phone calls.
The only thing is: as efficient as they are, and despite their sometimes very high price, these devices are not made to last. In fact, if you do not lose them – which happens quite frequently, especially when used in the street or on public transport – they may simply no longer work after two or three years, depending on their use. . And this, even if you take care of them, by cleaning them regularly and storing them meticulously in their charging case. They will inevitably end up in the trash in a few years.
The problem does not come from the mini speakers, the tiny electronic circuits or the microscopic wires and solders that connect them, although they can be damaged following a fall or mishandling, but with batteries that equip the headphones. Because, as in any autonomous portable device, these electricity accumulators are not eternal: they naturally wear out over the course of their use, gradually losing their capacity, to the point of no longer holding a charge and “dying”. Of course, their lifespan depends on their use, but with a limited capacity generally around 50 mAh, compared to the 4000 or 5000 mAh of a smartphone, the micro batteries of the headphones require frequent recharges which accelerate their aging.
The problem is that these batteries are neither removable nor repairable. At least, not easily. Indeed, if it is relatively simple to replace or have replaced a battery on a laptop, a smartphone or a tablet, the operation is much more complex on wireless headphones. Not only are the batteries tiny – earbuds typically weigh less than 5g! –, but, in addition, they are very difficult to extract due to the fact that all the components are welded and glued in a very limited space.
As regularly pointed out by FixIt, a platform specializing in the repair of electronic products which publishes tutorials and videosit’s practically mission impossible. This is why manufacturers like Apple prefer to change damaged headphones for new models rather than repair them, the operation being too costly in terms of labor. And this is the case for all wireless earphone manufacturers, for the same reasons.
This observation is distressing from several points of view. First, because even if you paid several hundred euros for them, your beautiful wireless headphones are destined to a certain and rapid end, so there is no point in spending a fortune on these gadgets, however practical they may be. Secondly, and above all, because these products represent a terrible waste of natural and industrial resources. And with such a short lifespan, they have a very negative impact on the environment, even if they end up in recycling channels.
So the next time you buy headphones, consider wired models. Certainly, they are less practical, but they are cheaper and a lot; more durable. And some offer excellent sound quality, much better than wireless!