Apple AirPods are a fantastic product. They’re the most popular wireless earbuds worldwide. Despite their popularity, they’re not without challenges.
Many users are experiencing this problem with their AirPods dying quickly.
Because they use tiny lithium-ion batteries, your AirPods are susceptible to “deep discharge” cycles that can last several days. This is when a full battery drains to 10% and less. This adds stress to the battery and reduces its overall lifespan. To prevent this, keep the AirPod battery levels between 40 and 80%.
There are many things that you can do today to prolong the life of your AirPod battery.
Why do my AirPods die so fast?
Apple AirPods are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These batteries must fit inside the AirPods, so they are extremely small.
All lithium-ion batteries eventually lose their charge and all of them eventually die. Because of their small size, AirPods’ batteries are more vulnerable to this degradation.
More “deep discharge” cycles can cause more damage to lithium-ion batteries and reduce their overall lifespan.
A cycle is when a battery has been fully charged and is then recharged. Deep discharge is when a battery is completely drained to 10% or less.
Not all batteries are the same.
If you run your AirPods for 50% of their battery life and then recharge them again, it would be considered one cycle.
However, this cycle is much less damaging to the batteries’ overall health because there were no deep charges.
AirPods are charged automatically to 100%, and can be used for hours, sometimes until the battery low chimes at 10% (deep-discharge cycle). ).
They are then placed back into the case and charged to 100%. It doesn’t take too long because the batteries are small.
You could easily go through 2-3 deep discharge cycles per day with a single pair of Apple AirPods.
AirPods are so quick to die. AirPods have a long battery life, but they quickly deteriorate due to all the deep discharge cycles.
Because the batteries are so small it is easier to notice degradation than an iPhone or iPad.
Apple AirPod owners report significantly lower battery life after just one year than they did when they first purchased them. Some users report less than 60 minutes of battery life after two years.
This is AirPod’s biggest weakness and it won’t change until battery technology has major improvements.
Brand-new AirPod battery life
To determine how low your AirPod battery has become, it is necessary to understand what the expected battery lifespan was when the device was new.
This gives you a benchmark against which to compare.
Battery life for AirPods (3rd Generation)
- Multiple charges in your matter: More than 30 hours of listening
- Unlimited Listening Time: Up to 6 Hours
- You get about an hour of listening time.
AirPods Pro battery life
- Multiple charges in your matter: More than 24 hours of listening
- One-time charge: Up to 4.5 hours of audio time
- You get about an hour of listening time.
Battery life for AirPods 2nd Generation
- Multiple charges in your matter: More than 24 hours of listening
- Single-charge: Up to 5 hours of listening
- 15-minute charge in their case. You get approximately 3 hours of listening time
How to increase the battery life of your AirPod immediately
Your AirPods are aging faster than expected. What can you do now to improve the battery life of your AirPods?
Reduce the volume
You can reduce the volume to increase your AirPods battery life.
You will reduce your battery life if you turn the volume up to the maximum. It’s that simple.
It is easiest to reduce the volume so that you can still hear/listen.
Sometimes we set the volume too high. Lowering the volume will save your battery and your ears!
Smart features can be disabled
There are many features that you can turn off if your AirPods start to die quickly. These features can be disabled to prolong your AirPods’ life.
One example is Automatic Ear Detection which switches audio from your connected device to AirPods as soon as you place them in your ear.
You can disable the AirPods by simply pressing play or pausing manually. This will save you a little bit of battery life.
To disable Automatic Ear Detection, go to Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods > Turn OFF Automatic Ear Detection
Another option is Noise Control. There are three options for noise control: Noise Cancellation Transparency Mode, Off.
These settings allow you to control the noise around you in various ways. I recommend that you turn Noise Control OFF to save some battery.
To disable Noise Control, open Settings on your phone > Bluetooth > tap to the info button beside your AirPods > choose OFF under Noise Control.
Only one AirPod at once
You can also double the battery life and listening time by using one AirPod at a.
This is not ideal but it might be worth it depending on your circumstances. If you are in a quiet area and need to make an hour-long Zoom call
One AirPod at a given time might be enough to give you enough battery life to use the entire call.
Although it isn’t the best long-term solution, this backup plan can be a good one in an emergency.
Clean AirPods and Charging Ports
If your AirPods don’t charge fully or die quickly, it could be because of dirt, grime, and earwax buildup on the AirPods and inside the charging port.
Begin by taking a Q-tip to gently clean the metal ring at the bottom of your AirPods. Next, open the charging case and clean out any plugs. Be sure to reach the bottom.
Isopropyl alcohol can be added to your Q-tip to really clean it. Don’t worry, Apple approves!
Check the speaker on your AirPods while you’re at. AirPods can become even less responsive as the gunk builds up.
AirPods Pro may require you to take off the tip in order to see if there is gunk on the speaker. Use a Q-tip for any earwax, dirt, or other debris.
It is helpful to have a flashlight or to use your phone’s flash to get a better view.
This issue can be resolved if you ensure that the charging connections are clean and that the AirPod speaker is clear.
How to prolong the battery life of your AirPod.
After you have done all you can to increase the battery life of your AirPods, it is time to discuss what you should do to maintain your AirPods’ long-term battery health.
Keep the battery charge at 40%
We have already discussed this briefly, but it is important to ensure that your Apple AirPods’ battery level does not drop below 40%.
Deep discharge is when the battery’s full life is reduced to 10% or less. Deep discharges add stress to the lithium-ion batteries and reduce their overall lifespan.
Keep the battery level between 40 and 80% to prevent premature wear and death of your AirPods.
AirPods should be kept in a cool, dry place
AirPods should be kept in a controlled environment, just like any other electronic device. Avoid leaving your AirPods in direct sunlight or at extreme temperatures.
Exposing your AirPods to extreme temperatures will drastically reduce their battery life.
The acceptable temperature range for lithium-ion batteries is normally -20 to 60 degrees Celsius (68 deg to 140 degF).
Low and high temperatures outside this area can cause degradation in performance and irreversible damage to your batteries.
It is best to bring your AirPods inside and keep them charged in a drawer.
Apple-certified charging cables
Apple is a fan of their walled garden of products. There are also chargers, cables, and other expensive connections.
While I understand the desire to spend half the amount on a wireless charging dock or charging cable for my AirPods, it is important that it is Apple certified.
You can be sure that if you purchase a third-party cable (or power block) from Amazon or a store at the mall it is not well made or a counterfeit. You get what you pay.
Apple’s support page contains a section warning its customers about these counterfeit parts that pose a danger to their products and themselves.
It’s possible that you are using a low-quality charging cable to charge your AirPods. This could be causing poor battery performance/ .
Get the right cable by spending an extra 10-15 dollars
AirPods need to be replaced
It’s now time to address the sad reality that some of your efforts to resolve your AirPods battery issues will lead to a replacement.
Before you start looking for a new set of AirPods you should:
- Bring your AirPods into an Apple Store to have your warranty checked!
- You don’t need to buy the entire set if you have a problem with just one earbud.
Your warranty covers the cost of repair or replacement if your AirPods have been in your possession for less than one year.
Conclusion
Apple AirPods are so slow to die because they use tiny lithium-ion batteries that are susceptible to multiple “deep drain” cycles per day.
Deep cycles are when the battery is completely depleted to 10% or less. This adds stress to the battery and reduces its overall lifespan.
This can be prevented by keeping your AirPod battery between 40 and 80%.
These are some other ways to increase the life of your AirPod battery:
- Turn off Automatic Ear Detection & Noise Control
- Reduce the volume
- Only one AirPod at once
- Clean the charging ports and AirPods
- AirPods should be kept in a dry environment
- Apple-certified charging products
If none of these options work and your AirPods are dying fast, it may be time to replace them.
