AirPods Pro: Rattlegate

[MacRumorsRanger]

Looks like the replacement program has been extended:

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.

Apple Quietly Extends AirPods Pro Repair Program That Addresses Crackling/Static

Back in October of 2020, Apple introduced a service program to address AirPods Pro issues that could cause them to experience static, crackling...

www.macrumors.com

 

[DCIFRTHS]

Either this isn't correct or they are in a never ending cycle of patching up AirPods manufactured before October 2020 and sending them back out as I'm on my 4th or 5th pair and need to log another call with Apple to get them replaced.

Will be annoying if one of the 'features' of the updated version is that they don't have this issue and we're all expected to pay again to replace ours with the new working version. At the very least I'll be expecting a hefty trade in to be offered.

How can I determine the manufacture date, or if they were manufactured after October 2020?
I have searched, but can't seem to find a reliable method. I'm also wondering if the serial number or the box can be used to determine manufacture date.

Thanks!

 

[chiefdave]

How can I determine the manufacture date, or if they were manufactured after October 2020?
I have searched, but can't seem to find a reliable method. I'm also wondering if the serial number or the box can be used to determine manufacture date.

Thanks!

I just go off the date of purchase. Other than that I guess go on the chat with Apple support and give them the serial number. You can get the serial number of the individual AirPods from your iPhone. Setting > Bluetooth > tap the i next AirPods > tap serial number and it will toggle between left and right.

 

[rsnhakan]

How can I determine the manufacture date, or if they were manufactured after October 2020?
I have searched, but can't seem to find a reliable method. I'm also wondering if the serial number or the box can be used to determine manufacture date.

Thanks!

You can look at the box there should be a month and year.

 

[madeirabhoy]

thats my second pair in for 'repair'.

i dont really mind in a way, as it feels almost like we have airpods for life, if they keep breaking within the first year and getting replaced. Also in a weird way, going back to my backup beats is such a pain that it reminds me of how good the airpods are in comparison.

 

[LFO8]

thats my second pair in for 'repair'.

i dont really mind in a way, as it feels almost like we have airpods for life, if they keep breaking within the first year and getting replaced. Also in a weird way, going back to my backup beats is such a pain that it reminds me of how good the airpods are in comparison.

Yeah? You like having to send your Airpods in for repair and being without any for a wee or two?

 

[andyw715]

Yeah? You like having to send your Airpods in for repair and being without any for a wee or two?

I just use the express thing (forgot what its called) where they send a "new" pair on a CC hold and release the hold once the old pair is received.

 

[xxray]

My right AirPod Pro (got them literally launch day in Oct 2019) started rattling and having major issues last week. Went to the Apple store to have it checked out and, to my surprise, it turns out both of my AirPods failed their diagnostic test (not just the right one).

My new ones sound worlds better and the noise cancellation is much better. I wonder how long my audio quality and noise cancellation was suffering as a result of this “gate,” and I didn’t even know it. So thankful Apple has good enough leadership to have the pods replaced for free for anyone that has this issue. This is what makes me a happy customer.

 

[whsbuss]

My right AirPod Pro (got them literally launch day in Oct 2019) started rattling and having major issues last week. Went to the Apple store to have it checked out and, to my surprise, it turns out both of my AirPods failed their diagnostic test (not just the right one).

My new ones sound worlds better and the noise cancellation is much better. I wonder how long my audio quality and noise cancellation was suffering as a result of this “gate,” and I didn’t even know it. So thankful Apple has good enough leadership to have the pods replaced for free for anyone that has this issue. This is what makes me a happy customer.

Exactly what happened to me over the summer.

 

[thimplicity]

Waiting for my replacements for 2 weeks now. The service advisors do not know when they arrive and they cannot just give me one of the units in store, as “we cannot do that”.

annoying…

 

[Boardiesboi]

My AirPods Pro case is not charging at all. Plugged it into the wall outlet via a lightning cable and the case battery % doesn’t go up.

Is the case broken? It still charges the individual pods, just not the case.

 

[BB-8]

My AirPods Pro case is not charging at all. Plugged it into the wall outlet via a lightning cable and the case battery % doesn’t go up.

Is the case broken? It still charges the individual pods, just not the case.

Yeah, you should get it swapped.

 

[japanime]

Waiting for my replacements for 2 weeks now. The service advisors do not know when they arrive and they cannot just give me one of the units in store, as “we cannot do that”.

annoying…

Ask them to escalate your case. I was getting the runaround from a customer-service rep, and when I asked for the case to be escalated, I spoke with a senior advisor who had a pair express-shipped to me that very day.

 

[thimplicity]

Ask them to escalate your case. I was getting the runaround from a customer-service rep, and when I asked for the case to be escalated, I spoke with a senior advisor who had a pair express-shipped to me that very day.

Seems like the senior advisor I talked to yesterday did not know that process. Is it the one where they charge your CC?

 

[japanime]

Seems like the senior advisor I talked to yesterday did not know that process. Is it the one where they charge your CC?

Yes, they'll put a hold on your credit card.

One part of the senior advisor script is for them to tell you "I'm going to take ownership of your issue." If they didn't say that, then ask them to do that -- "Will you take ownership of my issue?"

Hope it works out for you.

 

[thimplicity]

Yes, they'll put a hold on your credit card.

One part of the senior advisor script is for them to tell you "I'm going to take ownership of your issue." If they didn't say that, then ask them to do that -- "Will you take ownership of my issue?"

Hope it works out for you.

One complication in my case is probably that I dropped it off with best buy

 

[DCIFRTHS]

I just go off the date of purchase. Other than that I guess go on the chat with Apple support and give them the serial number. You can get the serial number of the individual AirPods from your iPhone. Setting > Bluetooth > tap the i next AirPods > tap serial number and it will toggle between left and right.

Can I go by the serial number on the box? It's still sealed. See below.

You can look at the box there should be a month and year.

I bought these a year ago (November 26th 2020) for $169. They were out of stock, and shipped December 12. I was going to give them as a gift but didn't. They are still sealed in the box, but there is no date anywhere that I can find.

 

[ninecows]

Can I go by the serial number on the box? It's still sealed. See below.



I bought these a year ago (November 26th 2020) for $169. They were out of stock, and shipped December 12. I was going to give them as a gift but didn't. They are still sealed in the box, but there is no date anywhere that I can find.

Ehm… so you have un-opened AirPods that you just want to return but they’re a year old? I might be missing something here, but aren’t they supposed to be faulty before they qualify for this program?

Edit:
My airpod pro’s are 18 months old and work perfectly

 

[BigZ12]

New version released today? MLWK3ZM/A. What's new?

 

[GarethR]

New version released today? MLWK3ZM/A. What's new?

That’s just the new version with the MagSafe case which was silently released at the same time as the AirPods 3

 

[DCIFRTHS]

Ehm… so you have un-opened AirPods that you just want to return but they’re a year old? I might be missing something here, but aren’t they supposed to be faulty before they qualify for this program?

Edit:
My airpod pro’s are 18 months old and work perfectly

I’m really looking to know if I’m going to be in for trouble before I break the seal or give them away. Especially if I give them away.

 

[ninecows]

I’m really looking to know if I’m going to be in for trouble before I break the seal or give them away. Especially if I give them away.

So unless there is some serial number on the box you can type in to check then you’ll have to open them. If the production date is before October 2020 they’re possibly defective, but I think it’s pretty random. I don’t think apple is going to accept return just on the date. They also have to be defective. Mine are from May 2020 and are not defective. At least not yet.

They’re not likely to be defective out of the box. Mostly it happens after a while. And some is not likely ever to be hit by the issue.

So either sell them/give them away or open them and start using them

 

[DCIFRTHS]

So unless there is some serial number on the box you can type in to check then you’ll have to open them. If the production date is before October 2020 they’re possibly defective, but I think it’s pretty random. I don’t think apple is going to accept return just on the date. They also have to be defective. Mine are from May 2020 and are not defective. At least not yet.

They’re not likely to be defective out of the box. Mostly it happens after a while. And some is not likely ever to be hit by the issue.

So either sell them/give them away or open them and start using them

I’ve been trying to determine the date of manufacture by the serial number on the box. I prefer to not type it into a website though. Can’t seem to decipher it on my own though. Did a lot of searching, but am coming up empty on the AirPods Pro serial number decoder.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I did not have rattle issues on my original set of APP's that I got on release week. I was having separate issues with the L & R, so I had an Express Replacement with AC+ right before it ended last week. The replacements solved the issues I was having, but during the first use of the L replacement, I noticed a rattle sound. I new the tread existed, but didn't have the problem with almost 2 years of daily 3-4 hours per day use.

A brand new (or refurbished?) replacement, with no wax or any dirt buildup had the rattle. Only doing it on NC or Transparency, not while off. It also would only do it with movement (walking, chewing,...).

 

[andyw715]

I wonder how many replacements Apple has processed? Is there evidence that later stock doesn't have these issues? It seems that I've been on this 6 mo replacement cycle. I don't get rattles but I get ineffective ANC. To the point where it actually makes things worse ie in phase amplifying of ambient noises