AirPods 1 sudden battery or disconnecting problems only during calls

[slineaudi]

My AirPods 1 have developed a strange issue where they disconnect without warning and it appears the batteries are run dead after only about 10 minutes when on a phone call. When not on a call, like listening to music, they last abut 2 hours and never have any dropout or disconnecting issues. I know the battery life while on a call is much less but this seems a bit extreme. I'm still pretty happy with their performance when not making calls but they are now almost useless for calls. Normal "end of life" behavior or something else?

 

[perezr10]

If it helps, I asked my son if he’s had any issues like this on his 1st gen AirPods and he hasn’t. However, he has fairly fresh batteries in his set since I paid Apple for the battery service this January.

What prompted the battery service was how quickly they’d run down on a phone call. I think he was getting about 15 minutes before he started hearing the sad droop sound. The 1st gens were never great with phone calls. I think they got 1 hour max when new. When I gifted them to my son they were down to 30 minutes.

 

[aakshey]

My AirPods 1 have developed a strange issue where they disconnect without warning and it appears the batteries are run dead after only about 10 minutes when on a phone call. When not on a call, like listening to music, they last abut 2 hours and never have any dropout or disconnecting issues. I know the battery life while on a call is much less but this seems a bit extreme. I'm still pretty happy with their performance when not making calls but they are now almost useless for calls. Normal "end of life" behavior or something else?

Signs of a dying battery. Apple doesn't use the best quality batteries any more. We are no longer in 2016.

 

[slineaudi]

Thanks for the help. I actually didn't realize Apple offers a battery service for the AirPods. I might look into that since I don't think the AP2 are upgrade worthy with something new brewing.

 

[QCassidy352]

Thanks for the help. I actually didn't realize Apple offers a battery service for the AirPods. I might look into that since I don't think the AP2 are upgrade worthy with something new brewing.

But the battery service is $49 per AirPod. At that price, and given that the charging case probably needs a new battery too (though perhaps not as soon), i think new AirPods 2 (which often go on sale) makes more sense.

Btw, I also have AirPods 1, about 3 years old now, which are at the same point as yours.

 

[slineaudi]

HA! I saw the $49 price and thought hey that’s pretty good Apple. But $49 PER AirPod?!? You’re right, better to just buy AP2.

But the battery service is $49 per AirPod.

 

[AnonMac50]

That started happening to mine about a year back. That's definitely dying battery. Soon, they will probably start doing that too even when just listening to music. And eventually it would disconnect within seconds.