Back in 2016, when Apple removed the traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack from its then brand-new iPhone 7, it was a shocker. However, this paved the way for them to introduce the first-ever true wireless earbuds – the AirPods. Now, users either had to go for an expensive wireless headphone or use a semi-expensive dongle to connect the old wired EarPods.
Since then, the dilemma is still on the table with AirPods getting upgraded to AirPods Pro, and the question is still valid – how long do AirPods Pro last? What if I spend $200+ on a wireless headphones that won’t last long?
To simply put, Airpods Pro will last for 2 years without any notice-worthy issues. It’s after 2 years when you will start to point out certain wear and tears that need troubleshooting. On average, AirPods Pro will easily serve you for 2 years quite smoothly.
How Long Does Airpod Pro Battery Last?
Now, obviously, for most Apple users, a 2-year lifetime is enough as Apple has mastered updating their products every year. This makes the previous model obsolete and kind of lures the users to ditch their old devices for the latest ones.
What matters the most, in this case, is how long do apple AirPods last in terms of battery backup. Interestingly, the battery backup has increased over time with the upgrading models of AirPods. If the devices are fully charged, here’s what you get as the battery support.
The AirPods First Generation offers
- Up to 5 hours of listening to music
- Up to 2 hours of talk-time
The AirPods Second generation offers
- Up to 5 hours of listening to music
- Up to 3 hours of talk-time
The AirPods Pro offers
- Up to 5 hours of listening to music (Active Noise Cancelation OFF)
- Up to 4.5 hours of listening to music (Active Noise Cancelation ON)
- Up to 3.5 hours of talk-time (Active Noise Cancelation ON)
Now, the keyword here is ‘Up to’. Obviously, Apple doesn’t guarantee that you will get this much battery support in every situation. Depending on how you are using the device and how often you are recharging it, the charge backup should vary. Moreover, the more battery-cycle is complete, the less backup you should expect from the device.
As for the charging case, regardless of the models, all charging cases offer
- An additional 24 hours of battery backup
- A total of 18 hours of talk-time
This, by the way, if the case is fully charged itself.
When you are running out of battery backup, a quick 15 minutes of recharging from the case will give you three hours of listening time and two hours of talk time if you are using the AirPods gen 1 and 2. In the case of AirPods Pro, you can easily get an hourlong backup just by recharging it for 5 minutes in the case. However, we recommend 15 to 20 minutes of recharging time for any AirPods model.
How Long Is AirPods Lifespan?
For any true wireless earphones, the very first thing that starts to degrade is the battery. Being wireless headphones with lesser wire to support, the TWS devices need to employ much more power of the battery to support the playback. That’s why the batteries are on the frontline to get damaged over time.
Apart from high temperature, what affects a lithium-ion battery’s lifespan is the charging cycle. Yep, every time you recharge the battery, it loses a bit of its capacity. The lithium-ion battery that’s used in AirPods can retain around 80% of its capacity up to 500 cycles of recharging.
From there on, it’s a downhill ride for the battery, and it would lose its capacity in a drastic manner. According to Tektronix, a lithium-ion battery lasts around 2 to 3 years or a 300 to 500 charge cycle – whichever comes first.
That’s why the typical AirPods lifespan is found to be around 2 years. However, if you are recharging it less often and using it quite occasionally, you can expect it to last more than 3 years, without a doubt.
Why Does Apple AirPods Don’t Last Longer?
That’s a common question many users wonder about. Well, the truth is, the size matters. Apple Airpods are quite small in size, and the battery placed inside is proportionate to its total volume. So, obviously, you can’t expect long-lasting capacity from such a tiny cell.
Then again, the level of water resistance does play a vital role here. As the previous 2 models of AirPods aren’t water-resistant, a small splash of water is enough to damage the battery and internal circuit on the go. It makes it more vulnerable than any other devices that have, at least, a minimum level of water resistance.
Again, the way the battery discharges in an AirPods accelerates the downfall of the device. When you are talking more about the AirPods than listening to music, it’s surely going to drain the battery much faster than usual. This increases the charging cycle, hence, degrading the battery faster.
And lastly, well, quite obviously, Apple designed these batteries not to last long. Why? Because Apple doesn’t want you to stick to the same device for years. They want you to simply replace the AirPods over time and switch to the latest devices. Fair enough?
How To Maximize AirPods Battery Life?
So, as you can see, the lifespan of AirPods is not something you have absolute control over. But you can definitely use it in more careful ways to extend the battery life in an effective manner. Here’s what you can do to increase the battery life of AirPods.
Keep The AirPods in The Case
The charging case is a mobile charger for your AirPods. When you put the AirPods inside the case, it automatically starts to recharge the devices. So, try to keep the AirPods inside the case whenever you are not using them. If you are using a wired charging case, remember to connect it to a power output first.
Switch-off Smart Features
AirPods come with a few smart features that are fun to use but not absolutely necessary. Such a feature is Automatic Ear Detection. If you turn this on, the music you are playing on your phone will automatically switch the output device to your AirPods from any other device the moment you put the AirPods in your ear. It’s nothing essential, and turning this on can cost you a lot of battery power.
So go to the Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods > Automatic Ear Detection > Turn it off
Don’t Play with The Charging Case
Yep, I know, it’s kind of addictive to play with the charging case. As it has a magnetic opener, flipping it open and closing it down feels oddly satisfying and stress relieving. But every time you flip it open, your AirPods activates the Bluetooth sensor in it, and it costs you a portion of battery power.
Don’t Use It In Extreme Conditions
Apple AirPods are crafted to be used in regular temperatures and environments. Using them in extreme heat and cool or moisture environments can immediately affect their performance. So, never use AirPods in extreme conditions.
Disable Noise-Cancelation and Transparency Mode
Both the noise-cancellation and transparency modes consume a great chunk of battery power from the AirPods. If you don’t have an extreme urge to use these features, disabling them would mean better battery life. So, don’t turn these options on unless you really need to.
Keep The Volume Down
Higher volume needs more power to support the increase of sound. Keeping the volume low would put less pressure on the battery and give you longer battery support. So, keep the volume down to a certain level; it’s equally healthy for the battery and your ears.
What If My AirPods Dying Faster?
Okay, so AirPods last around 2 years without any problem. But what if your AirPods is acting weird and not functioning properly before it’s even been a couple of years? Well, that’s something to be worried about, and you need to assess the problem.
If it’s a regular issue that can be fixed through some DIY stuff, like getting wet and battery draining fast, you should try to resolve these issues at home. However, if the issue persists, you should contact AppleCare for servicing the device.
If you are covered by AppleCare, you may fix the problem for only $29. Otherwise, it would cost you $89 or more, depending on the condition of your device. Find more about AirPods servicing plans here.
Final Words
There’s no denying that no matter how expensive Apple AirPods are, these are electronic devices and don’t come with a guaranteed lifetime. You can expect these true wireless earbuds to last around 2 years, but you should also use them carefully to make sure you don’t get into troubleshooting anytime sooner.
