It happens in a heartbeat. You’re stepping off the train, or maybe you’re just leaning over the sink, and plop—your right earbud is gone. Just the right one. The left is still sitting there, mocking you with its perfect connectivity. Honestly, losing one is almost more annoying than losing both because you’re stuck in this weird limbo where half your music sounds like garbage and your transparency mode feels lopsided.
Finding a right AirPods Pro replacement isn't actually that hard, but doing it without overpaying or accidentally buying a "superclone" from a shady eBay seller requires some actual legwork. Most people assume they have to buy a whole new set for $249. You don't. Apple knows we’re clumsy. They have a specific system for this, though they don't exactly shout it from the rooftops.
Why the Right Earbud Specifically?
Is it just me, or does it always seem to be the right one? There’s no scientific study on this, but most of us are right-handed. We reach for our right ear more often. We adjust it while running. We take it out to talk to a cashier. Consequently, the right side is the one that ends up in a storm drain or chewed by a golden retriever.
When you start looking for a right AirPods Pro replacement, you’re going to run into three distinct paths. Path one: The Apple Store. This is the "safe but expensive" route. Path two: The used market. This is the "wild west" where you might get someone else's ear wax or a fake. Path three: Third-party refurbishers like Podswap or Reebelo. These guys have carved out a niche just for people like us.
Identifying Your Generation (Don't Skip This)
If you buy a 1st Gen replacement for a 2nd Gen case, they will not talk to each other. They won't charge. They will just sit there like two people who don't speak the same language. You have to check your model number. It’s tiny. It’s printed on the underside of the earbud, and you’ll probably need a magnifying glass or a high-res photo from your phone to read it.
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- AirPods Pro (1st Gen): Look for A2083 (Right) or A2084 (Left).
- AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, Lightning/MagSafe): Usually A2698 or A2699.
- AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C): These have slightly different internal firmware versions (A3047, A3048).
Apple’s firmware is notoriously picky. Even if the buds look identical, the internal chips—the H1 versus the H2—are fundamentally different architectures. Putting an H1 bud into an H2 case is like trying to put a VHS tape into a Blu-ray player. It’s a physical impossibility for the software to bridge that gap.
The Apple Support Route: What It Actually Costs
Going through Apple is the only way to guarantee you’re getting a brand-new battery. Lithium-ion batteries degrade. If you buy a used right AirPods Pro replacement from a guy on Craigslist, that battery might already be at 70% capacity. You’ll get two hours of juice while your original left bud gets five. It’s frustrating.
As of early 2026, the out-of-warranty fee for a single AirPod Pro earbud is generally around $89. If you have AppleCare+, it’s much cheaper—usually a $29 deductible.
Here is the weird thing: Apple doesn't just sell these on a shelf. You have to go through their support portal, enter your serial number, and "start a request." They’ll ship the replacement to you in a small white box with a tiny tool to swap the silicone tips. It’s clinical. It’s efficient. It’s also the most expensive way to solve the problem if you don’t have insurance.
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Beware the "Superclones"
The market is flooded with fakes. I’m not talking about the $20 knockoffs that look like toys. I’m talking about $60 replacements that look, feel, and even pair like the real thing. They use pirated chips that trick the iPhone into showing the official pairing animation.
How do you tell? Check the transparency mode. True Apple silicon handles the "Right AirPods Pro replacement" integration by using the H1/H2 chip to process external sound in near-real-time (less than 10ms). Fakes almost always have a slight lag or a "hiss." Also, fake buds usually can’t do Precision Finding in the Find My app. If your iPhone can’t point an arrow toward the bud when you’re three feet away, it’s a dud.
The Used Market: A Survival Guide
If $89 feels like a gut punch, you’re looking at eBay, Mercari, or r/AirPodsSwap. It’s cheaper. You can often snag a genuine right AirPods Pro replacement for $45 to $55. But you’re playing a game of risk.
First, ask for a photo of the serial number on the bud. Then, ask for a photo of the "About" screen on the seller's iPhone while the bud is connected. If they won't provide it, walk away. There is a specific culture of "individual bud selling" because so many people lose one side and decide to sell the remaining parts. It’s a literal organ market for electronics.
When the replacement arrives, clean it. Seriously. Isopropyl alcohol (90%) on a Q-tip. Don't soak it, just wipe the mesh. You don't know where that's been.
The Pairing Headache
Once you have your new right AirPods Pro replacement, it won’t work instantly. This is where most people panic and think they bought a broken unit. You’ll put it in the case, and the light will flash amber. It’s a "mismatch" error.
- Put both buds in the case.
- Plug the case into power.
- Open the lid.
- Hold the button on the back for a long time. Not 5 seconds. More like 20-30 seconds.
- Wait for the light to flash white.
- If it stays amber, your firmware versions are out of sync.
This is a common "secret" problem. If your old left bud is on firmware version 5E135 and the new right bud is on 4A400, they won't pair. You have to leave them in the case, plugged in, next to your iPhone for about 30-60 minutes. The phone will silently push the update to the "new" bud so they can finally talk to each other.
Third-Party Specialized Sellers
There are companies like The Replacement Apple (not affiliated with Apple) or Podswap that specialize in this. They are basically the middle ground. You get a verified genuine part, usually cleaned and tested, for less than Apple’s price but more than eBay’s.
These services are great because they often offer a 90-day warranty. If the battery dies or the "rattlegate" static starts up—a common issue with 1st Gen Pros where the internal microphone comes loose—you aren't out of luck.
Speaking of the "rattle," if you’re looking for a replacement because yours is making a buzzing sound, check your serial number first. Apple had a massive service program for AirPods Pro manufactured before October 2020. You might actually be entitled to a free right AirPods Pro replacement from Apple if yours is defective rather than lost. It’s worth the 5-minute chat with a support rep.
Is it worth it to replace just one?
Honestly, it depends on the health of your remaining bud. If you’ve had your set for three years, the battery in your left earbud is probably nearing the end of its life. Spending $90 to fix one side of a dying pair is "throwing good money after bad," as my dad would say.
In that case, you’re better off trade-in-ing the case and the remaining bud for credit toward a new pair. But if your set is less than 18 months old? Replacing the single side is a no-brainer. It saves you $150 and keeps a perfectly good piece of tech out of a landfill.
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Actionable Steps for Today
If you’ve lost your earbud and need a fix right now, do this:
- Check Find My: Seriously, look one last time. If it’s dead, it’ll show the last known location. Check the cushions of the couch.
- Verify your Model: Go to Settings > Bluetooth > Your AirPods (i) > Model Number. Ensure you buy the exact match.
- Check AppleCare+: Go to mysupport.apple.com and sign in. You might have coverage you forgot about. $29 is a lot better than $89.
- Buy from a Reputable Source: If you go the eBay route, only buy from "Top Rated Plus" sellers with 99%+ feedback who specifically mention the serial number in the listing.
- Sync and Update: Once you get the bud, put it in the case and let it sit on a charger for an hour before you try to use it. Firmware mismatches are the #1 cause of "broken" replacements.
The world of single-earbud replacements is a bit of a maze, but it’s a manageable one. Don't let a missing piece of plastic ruin your commute. Just be smart about the firmware, watch out for fakes, and give the new pair time to get to know each other in the charging case before you start blasting music.