According to Apple, the affected units were manufactured before October 2020, and the original repair program offered cover for two years. Now a year on, it seems that Apple has quietly extended this cover for an extra year. The change to the support document was spotted by Reddit users. Here are the symptoms to look out for:
Crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise or while talking on the phoneActive Noise Cancellation not working as expected, such as a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds, such as street or airplane noise
Either or both buds can be affected, and affected units will be replaced upon confirmation of the issue after an examination. The AirPods Pro case is unaffected. Got a problem? Here are your options:
Find your nearest Apple Authorized Service ProviderMake an appointment with a Genius at an Apple Retail StoreGet in touch with Apple Support