AirPods Pro Hairline Crack

[ouimetnick]

I was cleaning some earwax off of my AirPods and noticed that they both have a small hairline crack going from the outer microphone all the way to the top. I thought it was a seam line at first until I realized that the line in’t straight or centered. I bought these from Amazon (ships and sold from Amazon.com Services LLC) on March 12th, and I received them March 19th I’m confident they are genuine as when I search the serial number on Apple’s website they warranty information is correct and I have AppleCare Plus Pro

I’ve never stepped on them or sat on them. They spend their time either in the charging case or my ears. I’ll contact Apple support and see what happens, but there is no way I’m paying $29 for an accidental fee since this wasn’t an accident. These cracks bring back memories to the iPhone 3G hairline cracking issue 12 years ago. Anyone else AirPods Pro or regular AirPods crack like this? I haven’t even been to the gym yet since they are closed in the state in MA. These AirPods Pro haven’t seen sweat yet and I don’t want the hairline cracks to compromise the water resistance. I tried to search for other posts, but google brings up the complaints of rattling and crackling sounds when using ANC & Transparency mode (both of which work flawlessly at the moment)

 

[ouimetnick]

I was only able to find one other instance

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/dulpa1
I wonder if mine were always cracked and I just didn’t notice until now. ?‍♂️

 

[ouimetnick]

After 30 minutes on hold, they are sending warranty replacements. Put a hold on my CC (not a big deal) and it should be covered under warranty (not an AppleCare incident)

 

[inbloomgc]

Actually I have those lines at the exact place on both of my 1-month old Pros as well. If I look really carefully, the line extends down all the way to the bottom of the stems. I can feel the seams with my nail. They do work fine...I feel like those lines are seams though, and not cracks.

 

[wkd]

mine has it as well.

 

[Mighty82]

Same on mine. It's a seam, not a crack.

 

[jmacie]

same lines too

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Yes it’s just a seam so don’t sweat it

 

[Ralfi]

That’s very strange. I don’t have that on mine. ?

 

[Royksöpp]

Happened to me once on a standard AirPod. It wasn't as large as that, but it was still noticeable.

 

[MacManiac76]

I don’t have the seam on mine. Bought them about a month ago directly from Apple. Shipped from China.

 

[ihakim]

If you look closely enough, all AirPods have them. I initially only thought one of mine had it, but the looked super carefully at different angles and with a flashlight at my other one and found it too. Did a bunch of digging on this topic a few months ago and realized they are seams not cracks.

 

[Ralfi]

Happened to me once on a standard AirPod

What happened to you once?

If you look closely enough, all AirPods have them.

? Can’t check mine as I have a skin over them, but photos I still have don’t show it. Maybe the light in the photos hide it...

 

[John dosh]

I also have them on mine also at first I thought was something wrong with them but then guessed it’s part of the design.

 

[Royksöpp]

What happened to you once?

 

[ouimetnick]

I wish the Apple rep I spoke with took me up on the offer to send him the photos I’ve posted here. Im also not sure why I didn’t receive an email notification to the replies in this thread even though I’m subbed. Sure enough the replacements have it (more obvious on the left replacement than the right one) looking at them through a magnifying glass, they are just seam lines from molding the halves together. There is also a fine seam line running from the inside microphone/ambient sensor. I guess I should have waited for more replies here before calling Apple. Oh well.

The first 2 photos show the original APP on the left with the replacement on the right The 3rd photo shows the replacement right AirPod on the right. My iPhone‘s camera couldnt show the seam line on the replacement right APP, but it’s there (just very hard to see unless the light hits it at the right angle.)

 

[Mighty82]

Well, now you have newer airpods ?

 

[ihakim]

I wish the Apple rep I spoke with took me up on the offer to send him the photos I’ve posted here. Im also not sure why I didn’t receive an email notification to the replies in this thread even though I’m subbed. Sure enough the replacements have it (more obvious on the left replacement than the right one) looking at them through a magnifying glass, they are just seam lines from molding the halves together. There is also a fine seam line running from the inside microphone/ambient sensor. I guess I should have waited for more replies here before calling Apple. Oh well.

The first 2 photos show the original APP on the left with the replacement on the right The 3rd photo shows the replacement right AirPod on the right. My iPhone‘s camera couldnt show the seam line on the replacement right APP, but it’s there (just very hard to see unless the light hits it at the right angle.)

I tried to warn you yesterday...

 

[Ralfi]

View attachment 921215

?

The way you worded it was confusing.

A hairline crack happened to you once. What does that even mean? - You returned them for another pair & it didn’t happen a second time?

So many unknowns! ?

 

[Duncan68]

I just checked my left APP with a magnifying glass and it has it also. Looks like a seam.

 

[Jashue]

G4 Cube scandal all over again!

 

[TimothyL]

I wish the Apple rep I spoke with took me up on the offer to send him the photos I’ve posted here.

If you do a chat with Apple in the Apple support app, you can send photos to them

 

[saisa]

I hve it too on my right airpod pro.
can someone please confirm if its normal or damaged?

 

[vinegarshots]

If you have a line running vertically from the mic grill to to the top of the airpod, it is a CRACK or a flaw in the injection molding, not a "seam". The AirPods are only built with two pieces that snap together (the main line you can see running around the pod in a circle shape). That is the only real mechanical joint.

My left pod is flawed like the OP's, and my right one is not. But I've already gotten so many replacements for faulty hardware that I don't want to bother with it right now...

 

[saisa]

If you have a line running vertically from the mic grill to to the top of the airpod, it is a CRACK or a flaw in the injection molding, not a "seam". The AirPods are only built with two pieces that snap together (the main line you can see running around the pod in a circle shape). That is the only real mechanical joint.

My left pod is flawed like the OP's, and my right one is not. But I've already gotten so many replacements for faulty hardware that I don't want to bother with it right now...

So, what do you suggest? should i just let it be? or can i claim a free replacement? i called apple support, they consider it cosmetic damage so no free replacement