How to disassemble headphones Xiaomi AirDots 2 with your own hands

Xiaomi’s modern wireless acoustics are famous for their accessibility and sound quality, but like any electronics, they require maintenance. Users often face the need to clean the dynamic grid of earwax or replace a failed battery. The Redmi AirDots 2 (often called the Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2) has a compact body that does not involve easy access to the insides. Manufacturers specifically design devices to look monolithic, hiding screws and mounts under decorative elements.

You need not only the desire to fix the gadget, but also a specific set of tools, as well as extreme accuracy. Any careless movement can damage thin plumes or break the speaker wires. Before you start work, it is important to realize that opening the case automatically voids the warranty on the device. If the headphones are still in warranty service, it is wise to contact an authorized service center.

However, if the warranty has expired or the device has suffered mechanical damage, self-repair becomes the only cost-effective option. In this article, we will discuss the dismantling process in detail so that you can safely reach the board and battery. The right approach will prolong the life of your loved ones TWS-Headphones without buying a new pair.

Tools and workplace preparation required

The electronics are not disassembled properly. To work with Xiaomi AirDots 2, you will need thin objects that can penetrate microscopic gaps. The standard home craftsman set will not work here, because the plastic headphone case is very fragile and easily cracks when exposed to rough influence. The main tool will be thin metal blades or special mediators for opening.

You'll also need a bright light source, and preferably a magnifying glass or a magnifier. There are tiny components inside the case, and it's important not to lose small parts or damage them. Tweezers with thin, curved ends will be your best assistant when removing the battery and disconnecting the connectors. Be sure to prepare a screw folding container if they happen to be found, although this model usually doesn't have them.

• 🛠️ Thin metal blade or scalpel for lids.
• 🔧 Plastic mediator or card for safe latch opening.
• 🔦 Powerful lamp and magnifier for working with small details.
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or small jar for micro-screws.

Pay special attention to the cleanliness of the desktop. Dust and villi trapped inside the headphone can cause the speaker to wheez or stick buttons. Rub the surface with alcohol and cover it with white cloth that will clearly show any fallen parts. Organizing space is the key to successfully completing the repair without loss.

⚠️ Attention: Use of scissors or rough screwdrivers for tingling the case is strongly discouraged.There is a high probability of splitting the plastic or damaging the speaker membrane, after which it will be impossible to restore the device.

Analysis of the design and access points Xiaomi AirDots 2

Before you pick up the tool, you need to carefully study the design of the device. Redmi AirDots 2 are made in the form factor of "intrachannel" headphones, where the main electronics are located in the leg and the speaker is located in the head. The case consists of two main halves connected by latches, and additional decorative inserts. Understanding where these connections are, will save you time and nerves.

The main entry point is in the charging contact area and the inner cavity where the earbud is inserted when charging. This is where the hidden screws or the beginnings of the seams are most often hidden. In some revisions, Xiaomi can change the location of the fasteners, so visual inspection in good light is mandatory. Look for any inhomogeneities in the surface of the plastic.

Importantly, the AirDots 2 model doesn't have any visible screws on the outside, and the whole design is built on a tight fit and adhesives, which makes the disassembly process more time-consuming than in screw-built devices, and you'll have to rely on tactile sensation and precision to find the right angle of input.

• 👁️ Carefully inspect the inside of the headphone bowl for hidden screws.
• 🔍 Check the area around the microphone for technological holes.
• 📐 Evaluate the density of the halves of the body along the entire perimeter.

The process of opening the case and dismantling components

The most critical step is to split the halves of the body. Start with the inside of the earpiece, the one that fits the ear. Carefully insert a thin metal blade into the seam between the front and the back. The movements should be not so strong as progressive: twist the instrument slightly to widen the gap, but do not try to (poke) at once deeply.

Once you have a little slit, you put a plastic mediator in there to record the result. You go along the seam, gradually snapping the plastic locks. You hear the characteristic quiet cracking, which is normal. The main thing is not to damage the wires that can be pulled from speaker to board. The mechanical stress on the wires is a common cause of cliffs when you disassemble sloppyly.

Once the outer cover is removed, you will have access to the main board and battery. The battery in Xiaomi AirDots 2 is usually glued to the case or board. To remove it, gently tuck the edge of the battery with a plastic blade. Do not use metal objects to pick the battery, as its puncture can cause the lithium cell to ignite.

If your goal is to replace the speaker, then after disconnecting the wires (if they are on connectors) or carefully detaching them, you can remove the dynamic module itself. Often the speaker is based on adhesive. Heating the body with a hairdryer to 40-50 degrees can facilitate this process by making the glue more plastic. However, be careful not to overheat the lithium polymer battery.

⚠️ Warning: When you disconnect the speaker, remember or photograph the color marking (+ and -) will cause the earphone to fail or the sound to be in antiphase.

Cleaning dynamic grid and eliminating pollution

Often the cause of silent sound or its complete absence is the banal contamination of the speaker grid. Earwax, dust and villi of fabric over time tightly clog the cells of the metal mesh, preventing the passage of the sound wave. Disassembly of Redmi AirDots 2 for cleaning is the most common and safe procedure that a user can perform.

To clean effectively, use a soft toothbrush soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Alcohol evaporates quickly and leaves no trace, unlike water. Walk gently across the grid with a brush to remove softened contaminants. A thin needle can be used for deeper cleaning, but act with extreme caution to avoid piercing the speaker membrane just behind the mesh.

If the mesh is removable, it can be carefully removed with tweezers after light heating. In some Xiaomi versions, the mesh is glued, then you have to clean right on the spot. After processing with alcohol, be sure to let the earpiece dry for 10-15 minutes before assembly. Wet alcohol inside the case can cause corrosion of the contacts.

Do not use aggressive chemicals, acetone or Kalosha gasoline to clean, which can dissolve the plastic of the case or damage the adhesives that hold the structure together.

Replacement of the battery and work with soldering

If the headphone has stopped holding charge or the battery is swollen, it needs to be replaced. Xiaomi AirDots 2 uses miniature lithium-polymer batteries. It is difficult to find original parts, so most often use analogues of the right size. It is critical to choose a battery of the same capacity and, most importantly, dimensions, otherwise it may not fit into the case or close the lid.

The replacement process almost always requires soldering skills. The battery wires in such small devices are very thin and sensitive to overheating. Use a soldering iron with a thin sting and a temperature not higher than 300 degrees. The contact time of the stinger with the contact should not exceed 2-3 seconds, so as not to damage the internal structure of the battery or the board.

When soldering, be sure to use flux to make it easier to spread solder. Canifol will also work, but modern non-wash fluxes are more convenient for working with microelectronics. Once soldered, be sure to check the polarity with a multimeter before installing the cover. An error in polarity can instantly disable the charge controller.

When you install a new battery, don't rush to close the case, plug the headphone into the charge, monitor the current, and if the current is running and the headphone is charging, you can start the final assembly, and remember that improperly stacking the wires of the new battery can cause them to be lid-clapped and short-circuited.

Assembly of the device and verification of functionality

The final step is to build Redmi AirDots 2. Before you connect the halves of the body, check again if all the wires are in their channels and stick out. Gently combine the halves and start snapping them from the bottom edge to the top. Press evenly around the perimeter until you hear the clicks of all the locks.

If the adhesives were damaged during the disassembly process, use a special glue B-7000 or E-8000 for electronics. Apply it with the minimum amount so that the excess does not squeeze out and do not stain the body. After gluing, fix the earpiece with a rubber band for 1-2 hours until the glue is completely dry.

After assembly, turn on your headphones and check all the functions: pairing with your phone, left and right channels, microphone and control buttons. If there is a sound but quiet, you may have badly cleaned the mesh or damaged the membrane. If the earphone does not turn on, check the soldering of the battery.

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Use rubber tape or stationery clamp to fix the case during drying of the glue, but do not overdo it with the force of compression so as not to deform the plastic.

Successful assembly gives the device a second life, regular preventive cleaning of the nets every six months will avoid the need to disassemble in the future, careful care and proper operation is the key to the long service of your wireless acoustics.