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miamialley

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 28, 2008
3,577
1,050
California, USA
I've had my AirPods since release in December 2016. Battery life until recently, had been as advertised with no problems. Recently, I'm getting under an hour of use of the pods on a single charge. The left one drains particularly faster.

How is your battery life?

The case also seems to drain faster than usual as well.
 
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LordEntropy

macrumors regular
Sep 21, 2007
159
16
I've had my AirPods since release in December 2016. Battery life until recently, had been as advertised with no problems. Recently, I'm getting under an hour of use of the pods on a single charge. The left one drains particularly faster.

How is your battery life?

The case also seems to drain faster than usual as well.

My battery life has degraded and mine are about the same age as yours. Case I think is fine but haven’t done any particular testing to determine that so it is just a gut feel. There have been other threads where other people are saying the same. Either they are getting great battery life or it sucks , a bit like yours. Some people have had success getting them swapped even out of warranty but others, like me , haven’t.

Maybe there were a batch of bad batteries in some of the early sets and we have just been unlucky or maybe this is normal for their age. Apple don’t seem to be able to tell me. I took mine in for a Genius appointment but the guy didn’t really have a clue.

Will see if any new AirPods are announced and maybe get those and let the wife have these. I have had a fair bit if us me out of them so maybe this is normal.
 

hubieonekanubie

macrumors regular
Jul 15, 2010
228
207
Kansas
Interesting that this came up. I use my left earpod for phone calls and it gets more use than the right for sure. I was listening to both of them yesterday and got the low battery chime and put them in the case and got out my backup Jaybird Freedom’s. Went to get it this morning to listen to my iPhone. Upon opening the case checking the battery, the case was at 86%, the right one was at 100% and the left was at 6% after charging in the case overnight. I got mine on launch day and had everything replaced once already once because of connection issues. I’ll be making a trip to the apple store soon to see what they will do. I also have another set that I bought for my son and the charging case will not function. It lights up when plugged in but is dead when nothing is connected. Both airpods seem to work on those. Luckily they were purchased in May so I should get that set replaced (at least the case). I know batteries don’t last forever but for the price, I feel like I should get some more mileage out of them than I have.
 

miamialley

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 28, 2008
3,577
1,050
California, USA
Is there a way for Apple to test the battery health? I read they can do a battery replacement for a fee. That seems a lot of trouble.
 

LordEntropy

macrumors regular
Sep 21, 2007
159
16
Is there a way for Apple to test the battery health? I read they can do a battery replacement for a fee. That seems a lot of trouble.

When I went into my local Apple store the “Genius” had no idea. I had to direct him on a testing methodology and even that was not massively scientific. He originally was fixated on the case being faulty but managed to persuade him that was not the case. In the end I came away without any real answers but Apple are arrogant to call their tech guys genius as they were certainly lacking in this area.
 

luigi408

macrumors 6502
Jun 22, 2008
362
114
My AirPods are also starting to die way too quickly. I recent went to a run and the AirPods had full battery. The run didn’t even take 30 minutes and it died on me at the end of the run. I got mine a month after they released. Now I’m doubting if I’ll be buying AirPods from Apple ever again.
 
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LordEntropy

macrumors regular
Sep 21, 2007
159
16
My AirPods are also starting to die way too quickly. I recent went to a run and the AirPods had full battery. The run didn’t even take 30 minutes and it died on me at the end of the run. I got mine a month after they released. Now I’m doubting if I’ll be buying AirPods from Apple ever again.

I am thinking of buying from another vendor who maybe offers more of a warranty.
 

miamialley

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 28, 2008
3,577
1,050
California, USA
I'm actually thinking my battery drain is caused by iOS 12 beta that I'm running. The issue started when I installed the public beta. TBD.
 
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macintoshmac

Suspended
May 13, 2010
6,089
6,994
I'm actually thinking my battery drain is caused by iOS 12 beta that I'm running. The issue started when I installed the public beta. TBD.

I think this might be easy to check, no? Charge them up fully, check with a device running release software. However, I do not know how a beta software can affect bluetooth audio devices. How might they be affected in terms of power consumption between release and beta software is a little beyond me at the moment.
 

Bazooka-joe

macrumors 603
Mar 12, 2012
5,347
3,743
Swindon, England
The batteries in the AirPods are so tiny that you have to question their durability after constant use for neatly two years. I guess that if yiu had to replace AirPods after 24 months, the ownership cost is loess than £2.50 a week
 

LordEntropy

macrumors regular
Sep 21, 2007
159
16
The batteries in the AirPods are so tiny that you have to question their durability after constant use for neatly two years. I guess that if yiu had to replace AirPods after 24 months, the ownership cost is loess than £2.50 a week

It’s a fair point. Mine were bought in December 2016 and are seeing faster drain. However some people who bought about that time are saying theirs are ok. What did disappoint me was that Apple had no answers when I took mine in to see a Genius. In theory they should have some idea , after all I was talking to a Genius!!
 

Sean006

macrumors 6502a
Dec 23, 2008
508
170
I'm actually thinking my battery drain is caused by iOS 12 beta that I'm running. The issue started when I installed the public beta. TBD.

yeah mine started to drain really fast after i installed beta 9....may take it off and just wait for the public release in the fall.

i can literally watch it tick down

and mine have been fine till this last beta
 

hubieonekanubie

macrumors regular
Jul 15, 2010
228
207
Kansas
I just did a reset on mine. I also went into Bluetooth settings on my iPhone X and forgot them in the list of BT devices and held the pairing button on the case until the light went amber then flashed white again. I wonder if this will help with anything. I can say that when I reconnected them, they connected almost immediately when I inserted the left one in my ear. It will sometimes take a LONG time, like a minute more or even not at all unless I go into bluetooth settings on the phone and tap on AirPods to manually connect them. I don’t think I’ve ever reset them since getting my X so maybe this will help power management on them. I’ve been using them since about 6:30 am and it’s 9:01 now and the left one I’m listening to is at 70%. One strange thing I just noticed is I put the right on in my ear and it was playing even though it wasn’t in my ear. Just ok it out an dit paused the music and put it back in and it resumed play. Now at 9:06 (approx 5 mins) the left is at 64%.
 

miamialley

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 28, 2008
3,577
1,050
California, USA
I just did a reset on mine. I also went into Bluetooth settings on my iPhone X and forgot them in the list of BT devices and held the pairing button on the case until the light went amber then flashed white again. I wonder if this will help with anything. I can say that when I reconnected them, they connected almost immediately when I inserted the left one in my ear. It will sometimes take a LONG time, like a minute more or even not at all unless I go into bluetooth settings on the phone and tap on AirPods to manually connect them. I don’t think I’ve ever reset them since getting my X so maybe this will help power management on them. I’ve been using them since about 6:30 am and it’s 9:01 now and the left one I’m listening to is at 70%. One strange thing I just noticed is I put the right on in my ear and it was playing even though it wasn’t in my ear. Just ok it out an dit paused the music and put it back in and it resumed play. Now at 9:06 (approx 5 mins) the left is at 64%.

Good usage time so far, at 64%.
 

steve knight

macrumors 68030
Jan 28, 2009
2,735
7,180
You have to make sure they are charging. About half the time I drop mine in they don’t start charging and I have to pull them out and drop them back in till they start charging
 

8CoreWhore

macrumors 68030
Jan 17, 2008
2,662
1,207
Tejas
I got mine Dec. 2016, and have experienced odd charging issues. I recently cleaned them thoroughly with Q-tips and alcohol. Make sure all surfaces are clean, including deep inside the charging case. There are little electrical connectors down there.

I sweat on mine a lot - is there a build-up of salt? IDK. It's too soon to tell if the cleaning will work, but it can't hurt. My feeling, without being scientific, is that it's better now after several days since no weird charging issues, but still a bit too early to know for sure.

The stems press right up against my sweaty, salty, face. Then I drop them in the case. There's no way salt isn't building up down there. From now on, I'm going to wipe the pods clean after a workout, before I drop them in case, and I'm going to do a thorough clean once per week.

I think I'll sell these as soon as the new ones come out. Be very honest about their age. I'll get a new pair every two years and sell the old ones for about 40% what I paid (if I can).

If you sell them for $70 after two years, that's a cost of ownership of $3.75 per month. If you get $50 for them, that's about $4.60 per month. Well worth it for me. Of course they sell more for that used on eBay right now. But, frankly I would never buy these used at all for any price. Who knows what the batteries will do and the cost of replacing pieces is expensive. Seriously, I'd be afraid an eBay buyer would complain later that it was sold, "not as advertised" and cause issues, the first time they get any weird charging or connection issues.

I'd say just keep the old set so if you lose a bud from the new set you can at least use the older one, but will it work with new chipsets? I doubt it.

I may just keep them after buying a new updated pair, soon, in case I lose the whole new set.
 

radiologyman

macrumors 6502a
Jul 23, 2011
755
271
How do I prove to Apple that battery life on AirPods is deteriorating? I am still within warranty
 

Goreli4

macrumors member
Aug 29, 2017
30
1
Ukraine
I just did a reset on mine. I also went into Bluetooth settings on my iPhone X and forgot them in the list of BT devices and held the pairing button on the case until the light went amber then flashed white again. I wonder if this will help with anything. I can say that when I reconnected them, they connected almost immediately when I inserted the left one in my ear. It will sometimes take a LONG time, like a minute more or even not at all unless I go into bluetooth settings on the phone and tap on AirPods to manually connect them. I don’t think I’ve ever reset them since getting my X so maybe this will help power management on them. I’ve been using them since about 6:30 am and it’s 9:01 now and the left one I’m listening to is at 70%. One strange thing I just noticed is I put the right on in my ear and it was playing even though it wasn’t in my ear. Just ok it out an dit paused the music and put it back in and it resumed play. Now at 9:06 (approx 5 mins) the left is at 64%.
Hello! Please tell me how much your AirPods work on a single charge. I bought these headphones recently and now I can not decide to take them back to the store or 3 hours of work - is this normal?
[doublepost=1538772635][/doublepost]
My AirPods are also starting to die way too quickly. I recent went to a run and the AirPods had full battery. The run didn’t even take 30 minutes and it died on me at the end of the run. I got mine a month after they released. Now I’m doubting if I’ll be buying AirPods from Apple ever again.
Hello! Tell me please, how much did your AirPods work as soon as you bought them? Two days ago I bought AirPods and noticed that they only worked 3-3.5 hours from charging. I do not know what to do, leave them or carry to the store?
 

Fattytail

macrumors 6502a
Apr 11, 2012
902
242
Guys, two years is a long time for these tiny batteries. Not surprised that they might be failing by now.
 

Goreli4

macrumors member
Aug 29, 2017
30
1
Ukraine
I've had my AirPods since release in December 2016. Battery life until recently, had been as advertised with no problems. Recently, I'm getting under an hour of use of the pods on a single charge. The left one drains particularly faster.

How is your battery life?

Hello! Tell me please, how much did your headphones work from one charge immediately after purchase? I took my 2 days ago and more than 3-3.5 hours they do not work. Very upset!
[doublepost=1538774567][/doublepost]
Guys, two years is a long time for these tiny batteries. Not surprised that they might be failing by now.
Hello! Tell me please, how much did your headphones work from one charge immediately after purchase? I took my 2 days ago and more than 3-3.5 hours they do not work. Very upset!
 

boast

macrumors 65816
Nov 12, 2007
1,411
868
Phoenix, USA
I get about 30 minutes on each AirPod when used for calling. During meetings, I have to keep swapping between left and right in the case.

For music I get about 1 hr using both.
 

Goreli4

macrumors member
Aug 29, 2017
30
1
Ukraine
I get about 30 minutes on each AirPod when used for calling. During meetings, I have to keep swapping between left and right in the case.

For music I get about 1 hr using both.
Hello! Please tell me how much your AirPods worked on a single charge when listening to music, immediately after purchase. I get from my 3-3.5 hours. I bought them 2 days ago and I am very upset about the result. Probably I will change, if possible.
 
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