Gadgets & Gear

Replaceable Batteries Are Becoming an Earbud Selling Point

By Priya Lindqvist / October 22, 2026 / Updated November 8, 2026

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 earbuds and charging case, official press image

Quick answer: Swappable earbud batteries are real now, but the list is short. The two clear examples we could verify are the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5, shipping since 3 September 2026, and the Fairphone Fairbuds 2, which SoundGuys lists as released on 2 November 2026. Replaceable does not mean cheap or easy: Fairphone publishes spare-battery prices, while Sennheiser’s weren’t in anything we could open. The EU battery rule is part of the backdrop, but it has exemptions, and the official page we read doesn’t name earbuds. We haven’t tested any of these products.

Key takeaways

Both products are shipping, not just announced: Sennheiser’s earbuds since 3 September 2026, Fairphone’s since 2 November 2026 (per SoundGuys).
Fairphone lists spare batteries at 9.95 euros (earbud kit) and 12.95 euros (case). We found no published Sennheiser spare-battery price as of 8 November 2026.
SoundGuys measured 6 h 17 min (Sennheiser) and 5 h 29 min (Fairphone) with noise cancelling on, below the makers’ claims.
The swap is not equally easy: Sennheiser’s earbuds need tiny screws and care with a gasket, while Fairphone’s earbud batteries need no tools.
EU Article 11 applies from 18 February 2027, but exemptions exist and the Commission has added more.

Who is actually selling swappable earbud batteries

When a feature becomes a trend you expect a crowd. Here it’s two products and some reviewers noticing. We didn’t survey the whole market, only what we could verify.

Detail	Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5	Fairphone Fairbuds 2
Status on 8 Nov 2026	Shipping since 3 Sep (announced 20 Aug)	Released 2 Nov per SoundGuys; Fairphone’s page shows no ship date
Price	US$299.95 (SoundGuys); CAD 449.95 on Sennheiser’s announcement page	119 euros (Fairphone)
Replaceable battery	Each earbud and the case	Each earbud and the case, plus seven replaceable parts
Tools	Small Phillips screwdriver (not included), pry tool in box	Earbuds: none. Case: T4 Torx bit (SoundGuys)
Published spare-battery price	Not found	9.95 euros (earbuds), 12.95 euros (case)
Claimed run time	Up to 12 h; up to 40 h with case	Up to 8 h ANC off, 6 h ANC on; 40 h with case
SoundGuys measured, ANC on	6 h 17 min	5 h 29 min
SoundGuys score	8.3/10	7.6/10

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5: what a swap involves

Sennheiser’s newsroom page says the earbuds were announced on 20 August 2026 and began shipping on 3 September. The battery in each earbud and in the Qi charging case is user-replaceable, and Sennheiser says the job takes a few minutes with a compact screwdriver. SoundGuys adds: two Phillips screws per earbud, a pry tool in the box to open the housing, and one screw on the case’s bottom plate. The screwdriver isn’t included, and SoundGuys warns that opening the earbuds can dislodge the rubber gasket, which may compromise the IP54 dust and splash rating Sennheiser lists.

HeadphoneCheck called the case swap very simple and the earbud swap fiddlier, and advised care if you’ve never opened small electronics. Its bigger point was price: when it tested (page updated 9 September), the spare-battery price hadn’t been announced and the parts weren’t in Sennheiser’s German shop. SoundGuys adds that the batteries are proprietary and the case battery must come from Sennheiser. We looked for a spare price and found none on pages we could open, so treat it as unknown.

Run time is the other reality check. SoundGuys measured 6 hours 17 minutes with noise cancelling on and said that falls short of Sennheiser’s advertised figure.

Fairphone Fairbuds 2: the spare-price advantage

Fairphone’s own page lists the Fairbuds 2 at 119 euros with replaceable batteries in both earbuds and the case. It also publishes a price list: 9.95 euros for an earbud battery kit, 12.95 euros for the case battery and 29.95 euros for a charging-case core. It lists seven replaceable parts and a warranty of up to three years, subject to terms. Availability and pricing outside Europe may differ.

SoundGuys (30 October) describes earbud batteries you reach by peeling back the silicone sleeve and opening a small drawer, while the case needs a T4 Torx bit. It rated the repairability excellent but found sound and microphone quality weaker spots, for a 7.6/10 score. Measured run time was 5 hours 29 minutes with noise cancelling on, against Fairphone’s claim of up to 6.

What replaceable batteries fix, and what they don’t

The logic is neat. Lithium-ion cells wear out with use, and in most earbuds a tired battery means a dead product. A swappable cell lets the speakers, microphones and case keep going.

It only works if three things hold years from now: the maker still sells the cell, the price is sensible next to a new pair, and you can open the housing without damaging it. An owner quoted in SoundGuys’ Sennheiser review said earlier models of theirs had failed and they doubted the new pair would last long enough to need a swap. That’s one anecdote, but it points at the right question, because batteries aren’t the only part that fails.

Checklist for swappable-battery earbuds

Is the spare-battery price published, for both the earbuds and the case?
Which tools does the swap need, and are they in the box?
Does opening the earbuds affect water resistance or warranty? (Sennheiser’s pages didn’t say about warranty.)
How long will the maker keep selling spare parts? We found no stated commitment.
How does measured run time with noise cancelling on compare with the claim?
Are you comfortable opening tiny electronics yourself?

Where the EU battery rule fits

The law behind the buzz is Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. Its Article 11 says producers must make sure end-users can readily remove and replace portable batteries, with removal instructions available. EUR-Lex’s consolidated text says Article 11 applies from 18 February 2027. It applies to products placed on the EU market.

Article 11 also lists exemptions, such as appliances built for wet or splashed environments, and lets the Commission add more by delegated act. On 28 April 2026 the Commission opened a consultation on six extra categories and named wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, electric toys and equipment for explosive atmospheres. On 14 July 2026 it said it had adopted the delegated act. Parliament and the Council now scrutinise it, and it takes effect 20 days after Official Journal publication unless either objects. For exempt products, only independent professionals need to be able to swap the battery.

What we couldn’t confirm: whether earbuds are covered. The Commission pages we read name smartwatches and fitness trackers, not earbuds. Headlines elsewhere suggest earbuds are in, but we couldn’t open the act’s text or confirm Official Journal publication as of 8 November. And none of the product pages we read tie these designs to the EU rule, so don’t read Sennheiser’s or Fairphone’s choices as compliance moves.

Frequently asked questions

Are replaceable-battery earbuds common now?

No. Sennheiser’s and Fairphone’s models are the two we could verify. Check each product page before assuming a pair has this feature.

How much does a replacement battery cost?

Fairphone lists 9.95 euros for an earbud battery kit and 12.95 euros for the case battery, in euro pricing. We found no published Sennheiser spare-battery price.

Will EU rules make every pair of earbuds swappable?

Not as far as we can verify. Article 11 applies from 18 February 2027 but has exemptions, and the Commission has adopted more. Its page names smartwatches and fitness trackers, not earbuds. For compliance questions, ask a qualified professional.

Does opening swappable earbuds hurt water resistance?

Sennheiser lists IP54, and SoundGuys warns the gasket can shift when you open the earbuds. Warranty effects weren’t stated in the pages we read, so check the maker’s terms before you open anything.

Before you decide

A swappable battery is a durability bet, not a guarantee. What matters is spare price, parts availability and how the earbuds perform today. Sennheiser’s pair scored higher with SoundGuys but has no published spare price we could find; Fairphone’s costs far less, lists its prices and scored lower on sound. We haven’t tested either, so we won’t call a winner. If repairability matters most, wait for spare prices and longer-term reviews.