When purchasing AirPods for the first time, it’s essential to consider how long fully charged AirPods will last. With this information, you can weigh the cost versus the value and decide if it’s a worthy investment.
Fully charged AirPods last 5 hours, but battery drainage depends on several factors, such as the AirPods model and volume. When fully charged, AirPods can give you up to 6 hours of listening time when spatial audio is off and 5 hours with spatial audio enabled.
Read this article to the end to learn more about how long fully charged AirPods last and what you can do to ensure your AirPods battery lasts longer.
Overview of AirPods Battery Drainage
Fully charged AirPods will offer at least 5 hours of listening and 4 hours of talk time. Besides volume and features, the AirPods model is also significant in determining how fast the battery drains.
AirPods Pro (3rd generation) has the best battery retention of all the available AirPods models since it offers 5 hours of listening time when the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature is off. When ANC is on, you get at least 4.5 hours of listening time and 3.5 hours of talk time. When the battery is about to drain, a five-minute charge boost can increase your listening time by about an hour.
The number of charge cycles affects how long fully charged AirPods last. AirPods will retain at least 80% of their battery health for 500 charge cycles if adequately maintained. After 500 charge cycles, the battery health will decline significantly, meaning they might not last the previous 5 hours of listening time.
Next, we delve into tips you can use to maintain your AirPods battery charge.
Tips for Preventing Your AirPods Battery From Draining Too Fast
Even if your AirPods battery-health decline is inevitable, there are several tips you can use to ensure they maintain charge and serve you longer. Here are a few.
Storing AirPods in the Case
Neglecting to store your AirPods in their case can seem harmless, but it can lead to faster battery drainage. This is primarily because the AirPods are still dispensing battery power when they aren’t inside the case.
Remember, the AirPods are active and ready to connect to your iPhone’s Bluetooth whenever you’re prepared to use them. But, even when Bluetooth is off, they still discharge battery power. To maintain battery charge, ensure you store your AirPods in their case. Additionally, keeping them in their case reduces the chances of losing them.
Avoid Repeatedly Opening and Closing the AirPods Case Lid
Some AirPods users are guilty of holding the AirPods case in their hands and repeatedly opening and shutting the lid. It’s essential to note that opening and then closing the AirPods case activates the AirPods Bluetooth and turns it off. Sending different signals like these will drain the battery faster.
To avoid repeatedly flicking the AirPods case lid, ensure you place it out of reach after successfully pairing the AirPods to your iPhone.
Disable the Automatic Ear Detection Feature
AirPods have an Automatic Ear Detection feature that automatically pauses a song or video when you remove an AirPod. Even though this feature is helpful, it consumes battery power.
If you don’t need the AED feature, disable it using the steps below.
- Connect the AirPods to your iPhone.
- On your iPhone, open the Settings, then tap “Bluetooth“.
- Click on the “More Info” option next to the “AirPods” section.
- Slide the toggle next to “Automatic Ear Detection” to “Off“.
Use One AirPod at a Time
Using one AirPod at a time is one of the best ways to ensure your AirPods battery charge serves you longer. If you anticipate using your AirPods for longer than five hours, using one AirPod at a time stretches your listening time by another five hours. While using one AirPod, ensure the other charges in the case.
Reset Your AirPods
If you notice that your AirPods drain faster than they should, even with the Automatic Ear Detection feature off, the best fix is to reset your AirPods. Here’s how to do it.
- Place the AirPods in their case and close the lid.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds, then open the case lid.
- On your iPhone, click on Settings, then select “Bluetooth“.
- Go to “AirPods” > “More Info” > “Forget This Device” > “Forget Device“.
- Press the AirPod setup button for at least 15 seconds with the case lid open. The AirPods LED indicator lights will turn from amber to white.
- Reconnect your AirPods, and check if the battery drains as fast as before.
Summary
As you’ve learned, fully charged AirPods can offer up to 5 hours of listening time and 4 hours of talk time. To prevent your AirPods battery from draining too fast, store AirPods in their case, turn off the AED feature, or reset your AirPods.
