AirPods Pro earbuds with sound problems will get replaced for free by Apple. Apple confirmed that a few percentage of AirPods Pro units might be faulty and users might experience audio problems. The units have been manufactured before October 2020 which means AirPods Pro units sold in 2019 and 2020 falls under this bracket. Apple has launched a service programme for affected users where they will provide free replacement of earbuds or fix it.
A dedicated page has been published by Apple in their support site announcing the new programme mainly for AirPods Pro. It covers affected AirPods Pro for two years after the first retail sale of the unit. It is applicable everywhere but do not extend to the normal warranty coverage of earbuds. The service programme would tend to AirPods Pro units that produce crackling or static sounds. The sounds have been reported to increase mainly in loud environments during exercise or talking over the phone.
Also, affected units of AirPods Pro might experience faulty Active Noise cancellation functionality. There might be loss in bass or increase in background sounds like street or airplane noise. The affected AirPods Pro units would be serviced free of charge. If replacement is needed, it will be done at no extra cost.
Apple said that AirPods Pro case is not affected and covered under this programme. If users are experiencing any of the mentioned issues, Apple has advised users to head to an Apple Authorised Service Provider, make an appointment at Apple Retail Store or contact Apple Support. AirPods Pro would be examined prior to any service for verifying that they are eligible for this programme. If technician confirms the problem, AirPods Pro would get replaced. Apple said that other AirPods models are not a part of this programme.