Since their debut in 2017, Apple AirPods have become ubiquitous, with over 400 million units sold. However, the finite lifespan of their batteries means that the first generations are likely facing obsolescence, contributing to electronic waste. AirPods are notoriously difficult to repair, making battery replacement challenging. This raises a crucial question for users: How Long Do Airpods Last, and what can be done to extend their lifespan?
If you’re an AirPods owner, maximizing their longevity is both economically and environmentally sound. This article delves into the expected lifespan of AirPods, factors influencing their battery life, and actionable strategies to ensure they last as long as possible.
Editor’s note: Information in this article is current as of November 21, 2024, reflecting updates including the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
Decoding AirPods Battery Life
On a single full charge, AirPods typically offer around 6 hours of listening time and 4.5 hours of talk time. However, it’s important to note that advertised battery life varies across different AirPods models and is influenced by several variables. These include volume levels, feature usage (like Active Noise Cancellation or Spatial Audio), and inherent battery degradation over time. Apple’s battery life claims are based on tests conducted at a moderate 50% volume level.
For specific battery life details for each AirPods version, Apple provides a helpful Compare AirPods models tool on their website.
Independent testing, such as SoundGuys’ battery tests, provides real-world performance insights. For instance, the AirPods 4 demonstrated 6 hours and 21 minutes of continuous playback in their tests. A quick 5-minute charge can provide approximately an hour of additional listening or talk time, with a 15-20 minute charge offering a near full battery. The USB-C charging case accompanying the AirPods 4 extends the total listening time to around 30 hours through multiple charges.
The AirPods Pro (2nd generation), equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC), offer the following battery performance on a full charge:
- Up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled (slightly less, around 5.5 hours, with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking).
- Up to 4.5 hours of talk time with ANC enabled.
Similar to other models, a 5-minute quick charge provides about an hour of extra listening or talk time. The AirPods Pro 2 MagSafe charging case can further extend the total battery life to:
- Up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC enabled.
- Up to 24 hours of talk time with ANC enabled.
For users needing a quick boost, a 15-minute charge of AirPods can yield approximately 3 hours of listening time or 2 hours of talk time, emphasizing the benefit of even short charging periods.
Understanding the Expected Lifespan of AirPods
The typical lifespan of AirPods is estimated to be around two to three years. This is primarily due to the lithium-ion batteries inherent in all true wireless earbuds, which are often the first component to degrade.
Battery degradation is an unavoidable process influenced significantly by charging cycles and temperature extremes. Each charge cycle incrementally reduces a battery’s capacity, a process described in detail by Android Authority. Unfortunately, this capacity loss is irreversible, leading to eventual battery failure. Every battery is designed for a limited number of charge cycles before it can no longer effectively hold a charge.
AirPods Pro likely utilize Varta CoinPower lithium-ion coin cell batteries. Under ideal conditions, these batteries can maintain over 80% of their original capacity for 500 or more charge cycles. However, battery degradation accelerates beyond this point.
According to a Tektronix white paper on lithium-ion battery maintenance, a typical lithium-ion battery’s life expectancy is about two to three years or 300 to 500 charge cycles, whichever comes first. Tektronix recommends battery replacement when capacity drops below 80%. Given that Varta coin cells reach this point around 500 charge cycles, with daily charging, this translates to roughly 16 months before noticeable degradation.
User experiences reported on platforms like Reddit indicate that first and second-generation AirPods typically lasted about two years with daily use before battery life diminished significantly, often to less than an hour of listening time. Actual lifespan varies based on usage patterns. While extending AirPods lifespan beyond two years may be challenging, adopting best practices can help maximize each charge and slow battery decline.
Apple offers various AirPods models, including the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation:
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
These models offer enhanced features and varying battery performance.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Understanding these variations helps users make informed decisions regarding usage and expectations.
Strategies to Prolong Your AirPods’ Life
Extending the lifespan of your AirPods involves multiple approaches: optimizing battery usage per charge, adopting practices to improve overall battery health and product longevity, and considering repair options when battery degradation inevitably occurs.
Maximizing Battery Life Per Charge
To get the most out of each charge, focus on conserving battery power:
- Reduce Volume: Lower volume levels consume less power and are also beneficial for hearing health, as highlighted by SoundGuys’ guide on hearing loss prevention.
- Disable ANC When Not Needed: Active Noise Cancellation is energy-intensive. Turn it off in quieter environments.
- Turn Off Unnecessary Smart Features: Features like automatic ear detection, Spatial Audio, and automatic device switching can be disabled if not essential. Apple provides instructions on how to disable smart features.
- Use Single Earbud for Calls: For phone calls, using one earbud at a time and alternating between them can effectively double talk time. Power off the unused earbud to conserve battery.
- Power Off When Not in Use: Completely turn off your AirPods when not in use. If the battery is above 40%, consider storing them outside the charging case to prevent unnecessary charging cycles, though ensure they are stored safely to avoid loss or damage. A simple mint tin can serve as a non-charging storage case.
Extending Overall AirPods Lifespan
Avoiding deep discharges is crucial for extending battery lifespan. While it’s good practice to utilize a full charge, completely draining the battery is detrimental. According to a study in Nature, over-discharging lithium-ion batteries can cause irreversible damage and increase the risk of short circuits. Even minimal deep discharges contribute to reduced battery capacity over time.
Maintaining battery charge between 20-80% is optimal for lithium-ion battery health. Your iPhone or iPad typically alerts you when AirPods battery drops to 20%, signaling the ideal recharge point. The 10% warning is a critical low-battery indicator, and regular deep discharges below this level should be avoided.
Conversely, constantly fully charging AirPods to 100% is also not ideal. Maintaining a full charge state induces mechanical stress on the battery, shortening its overall life. Apple’s “Optimized Battery Charging” feature in AirPods Pro, detailed by Apple Support (Optimized Battery Charging), addresses this by limiting charging beyond 80% until just before anticipated use, based on usage patterns. This feature, available on iOS 14.2 or later, helps reduce battery wear. If you use AirPods Pro but do not meet these conditions, consider manually managing charging to stay within the 20-80% range.
For prolonged storage, such as when you won’t use your AirPods for an extended period, charging them to around 50% and storing them in a cool, dry place, outside the charging case, is recommended to maximize long-term battery health.
Considerations for the AirPods Charging Case
The AirPods charging case also contains a battery with a limited lifespan. While convenient, wireless charging can degrade the case battery faster. Research indicates that inductive wireless charging is less energy-efficient and generates more heat, which can accelerate battery degradation. Wired charging via cable is more efficient and generates less heat, thus being gentler on the battery over time.
While the charging case battery is typically larger and more durable than the earbud batteries, making it likely to outlast the AirPods themselves, opting for wired charging can still contribute to its longevity.
Repairing or Servicing Your AirPods
The “right to repair” movement is gaining traction globally, and while the US is yet to formalize legislation, Apple has initiated a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) parts service. This program ships replacement parts for Apple products, but repair eligibility is determined by Apple, and the complexity of repair remains a hurdle.
AirPods are notoriously difficult to repair due to their glue-based assembly without screws or clips. iFixit consistently rates AirPods generations as unfixable. While technically possible with specialized tools and expertise, DIY repair, as demonstrated in videos like this AirPods repair guide, is generally not recommended for average users.
Given the difficulty of DIY repair, service options are limited. Apple offers some repair services, though often battery replacement is not offered separately, and out-of-warranty repairs can be costly, sometimes approaching the price of new AirPods. Third-party repair services are scarce due to the complexity of AirPods construction.
Why AirPods Lifespan Matters: Environmental and Economic Impacts
Beyond the expense of replacing AirPods, their short lifespan and repair challenges contribute to significant environmental and social impacts. The production of earbuds and other wireless devices has substantial environmental and social costs, particularly due to battery production and disposal.
Unlike wired earbuds, true wireless earbuds like AirPods contain three batteries: one in each earbud and one in the charging case. While lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and an improvement over single-use batteries, their lifecycle is not environmentally benign. Both battery production and recycling have sustainability challenges.
The extraction of raw materials for lithium-ion batteries, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, involves mining processes that generate toxic waste and have adverse effects on local environments, workers, and communities. Furthermore, improper disposal often leads to batteries ending up in landfills, where chemicals can leach into the environment.
Lithium-ion battery recycling is improving, driven by resource scarcity and increasing demand from industries like electric vehicles. However, maximizing the lifespan of your AirPods and ensuring they are properly recycled at end-of-life are crucial steps to mitigate their environmental footprint.
Sustainable AirPods Alternatives
When considering your next earbud or headphone purchase, prioritize longevity and sustainability. Here are eco-friendlier alternatives and AirPods alternatives to consider:
Opt for Wired Headphones
Wired headphones, lacking batteries, inherently last longer. Component failures, such as cable damage, are typically easier and cheaper to repair than battery issues in wireless earbuds. Wired options also often support lossless audio quality.
For high-quality wired earbuds as an AirPods alternative, consider Etymotic ER4SR or FiiO FH5, both featuring MMXC connectors for replaceable audio cables. A budget-friendly option is the Shure SE215s. Note that smartphones without headphone jacks may require a Lightning or USB-C adapter.
For superior sound quality in quiet environments, over-ear headphones are preferable. The Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX, essentially a more affordable Sennheiser HD 650, offers excellent performance, comfort, and a replaceable cable.
Choose Bluetooth Headphones with Audio Jacks
If wireless is essential, select Bluetooth headphones with an audio jack. These can function as wired headphones after battery failure, extending their usability.
Many high-end wireless headphones, such as Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4, include audio jacks, while budget models often omit this feature. For a more affordable option with an audio jack, the Monoprice BT-600ANC provides good noise cancellation and features for under $100 (noise cancelling headphones under $100).
Consider Repairable Earbuds
Repairability should be a key factor in electronic purchases. For wireless earbuds, check iFixit repairability scores or manufacturer repair policies. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, with an iFixit score of 3/10, are among the more repairable AirPods alternatives currently available.
Responsible AirPods Disposal and Recycling
Avoid discarding old AirPods in landfills or drawers. Apple offers an AirPods recycling program for battery and component recycling. Through their trade-in program, you can return AirPods at Apple Stores or by mail using a prepaid shipping label. Other recycling programs exist, such as Podswap, which also covers shipping costs for donations.
Do you consider repairability when purchasing headphones or earbuds?
[Poll embedded here – as per original article, but not reproducible in markdown]
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do AirPods typically last?
AirPods generally last for about two to three years, with battery degradation being the primary limiting factor.
What is the battery life of AirPods on a full charge?
AirPods offer up to 6 hours of listening time or 4.5 hours of talk time on a full charge, varying by model and usage conditions.
How can I extend my AirPods’ lifespan?
To extend AirPods lifespan, avoid overcharging and deep discharges, reduce volume, disable unnecessary features, and utilize optimized battery charging if available.
Is it okay to leave AirPods charging overnight?
Yes, it’s generally safe due to built-in overcharge protection. However, for optimal battery health, avoid constant full charging and aim to keep charge levels between 20-80%.
Is the lifespan of AirPods Pro different from standard AirPods?
The lifespan of AirPods Pro is similar to standard AirPods, approximately two to three years, primarily limited by battery degradation.
Do AirPods drain phone battery?
Yes, AirPods can slightly increase phone battery drain due to Bluetooth usage, but the impact is usually minimal.
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