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RAMM

macrumors newbie
Mar 29, 2016
23
19
Chicago
Interesting. Mine updated (overnight?) without being connected to the charger. It looks like as long as the AirPods are in the case, the update takes place. Will have to test to see if battery charge management has improved; my setup was lasting on average 3 days with moderate daily use.
 
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tomaustin44

macrumors regular
Oct 26, 2013
185
90
Well since updating and fully charging 5ish hours I've used my AirPods for about 60 minutes and am still on 99%. Time will tell but I'd say the update has definitely fixed the issue!!
 

mark.macrumors

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2017
8
3
Well, the way to verify if the battery drain issue is resolved is opening the case to check the battery frequently, without using the pods. Then see if the case battery goes down unreasonable like before :)
 

bronksy

macrumors 6502a
Oct 5, 2006
735
469
London
Battery drain is still there for me even after the update. Dropped 6% in 8 hours sitting in the case.
These are new pods. Have only had one charge cycle.
 

Maximus77

macrumors newbie
Feb 2, 2017
1
0
I left the case next to the phone at night, and this morning I checked - yes, the firmware was updated (3.5.1). It was without the charging. The case had 51% of charge.
 

Diiiiips

macrumors regular
Mar 2, 2011
239
11
Haven't we already established the first 12-24 hours aren't the best to judge the battery life? Wait a day or so then see what the discharge rate is like.
 

xenzo1990

macrumors newbie
Jan 3, 2017
8
0
Well. I was hoping it would fix it. 3.5.1. I have had minimal battery drain providing I don't open the case after putting them back in. Maybe 1% in 12 hours. After 3.5.1 I thought I'd put it to the test.

Finished using them last night put them in the case. Then opened the case lid to check battery. Closed it without taking them out. Left them for ~12h. 15% drop.

How can they still not have fixed this?! It's clearly a software issue. It's clearly to do with opening the lid without using them.
 

mark.macrumors

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2017
8
3
Well. I was hoping it would fix it. 3.5.1. I have had minimal battery drain providing I don't open the case after putting them back in. Maybe 1% in 12 hours. After 3.5.1 I thought I'd put it to the test.

Finished using them last night put them in the case. Then opened the case lid to check battery. Closed it without taking them out. Left them for ~12h. 15% drop.

How can they still not have fixed this?! It's clearly a software issue. It's clearly to do with opening the lid without using them.
That's sad.
 

Shadowbech

macrumors G3
Oct 18, 2011
9,038
5,894
Updated to 3.5.1 last night. AirPods and Charging case was 100%/100%. Unplugged before going to bed at 11 pm. 5 PM today, charging case and AirPods was still at 100%. Listened to music for about 30 minutes at battery was at 90%. I'll have to see when I plug the AirPods into the charging case tonight.
 
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mgenerator

macrumors newbie
Feb 2, 2017
7
0
Hi, i've been following this thread for a while. Got my AirPods start of january and replaced them a couple of days ago due to this battery drain. New ones are just the same. New firmware, no difference. Sigh.
I don't look so much at the case as the pods themselves. They constantly drain 5 percent/hour on standby, out of the case. 'Constantly' is pretty literal here: every hour cuts between 4 and 6 percent.

Sad! Very bad! :D

This is taking up way too much of my thoughts. I'm glad Apple is acknowledging the problem now at least.
Thank you for sharing all this info, especially Hero-Dan!

@mark.macrumors I'm with you on the weird supply issue. Deliveries just get pushed back one day every day. Something seems out of order here. It's a complicated build but like you say, ramping up to mass production shouldn't be an issue.
 

mark.macrumors

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2017
8
3
Yeah, it's unfortunate. I am giving up on the Airpods for now, and I will get it when the 2nd generation comes out and all these 1st gen bugs got ironed out.

For now I am getting the Solo3, which is just over $200 on Amazon, better sound, better battery, better noise isolation, and frankly, a better deal than the full price Airpods as well :)
 
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mgenerator

macrumors newbie
Feb 2, 2017
7
0
Yeah, it's unfortunate. I am giving up on the Airpods for now, and I will get it when the 2nd generation comes out and all these 1st gen bugs got ironed out.

For now I am getting the Solo3, which is just over $200 on Amazon, better sound, better battery, better noise isolation, and frankly, a better deal than the full price Airpods as well :)

I like them too much... Will probably keep getting replacements until they work ok even tho I'd like to wait for next version.
 

mark.macrumors

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2017
8
3
Replacement won't be necessary, as it seems most units have the same issue, which is really a software issue. So all you can do is to just wait for firmware update.
 

mgenerator

macrumors newbie
Feb 2, 2017
7
0
Replacement won't be necessary, as it seems most units have the same issue, which is really a software issue. So all you can do is to just wait for firmware update.

I know.
But... why are only some people affected? Haven't seen anyone address this here.
Even though I know I'm (probably) wrong, I want a pair that works flawlessly out of the box. These are defective, they erred in production it seems, in some way (Apple Store listed them as DOA when I returned them, hehe). Feel free to correct me :)
 

tomaustin44

macrumors regular
Oct 26, 2013
185
90
Hi, i've been following this thread for a while. Got my AirPods start of january and replaced them a couple of days ago due to this battery drain. New ones are just the same. New firmware, no difference. Sigh.
I don't look so much at the case as the pods themselves. They constantly drain 5 percent/hour on standby, out of the case. 'Constantly' is pretty literal here: every hour cuts between 4 and 6 percent.

Sad! Very bad! :D

This is taking up way too much of my thoughts. I'm glad Apple is acknowledging the problem now at least.
Thank you for sharing all this info, especially Hero-Dan!

@mark.macrumors I'm with you on the weird supply issue. Deliveries just get pushed back one day every day. Something seems out of order here. It's a complicated build but like you say, ramping up to mass production shouldn't be an issue.

I'd recommend giving your Airpods a bit of time before swapping them again. When the battery drain issue was first noticed, quite a few people found that their battery life improved to the advertised levels after a few full charge cycles. Admittedly, that didn't work for mine... the firmware update has fixed mine but it could be that there are still some units with battery calibration issues. Worth a shot.
 
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WilliamG

macrumors G4
Mar 29, 2008
10,007
3,894
Seattle
Mine are behaving miles better since the firmware update (so far). I had them off the charger yesterday morning, used them quite some yesterday (several hours of talk time) - including charging them to full. Went to bed with the case at 81% (in line with Apple's estimates). Woke up with the case still at 81%. Used them for a bit this morning (probably an hour of talking), and then back in the case.

Case is now at 75%. Very pleased so far.
 
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mark.macrumors

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2017
8
3
Mine are behaving miles better since the firmware update (so far). I had them off the charger yesterday morning, used them quite some yesterday (several hours of talk time) - including charging them to full. Went to bed with the case at 81% (in line with Apple's estimates). Woke up with the case still at 81%. Used them for a bit this morning (probably an hour of talking), and then back in the case.

Case is now at 75%. Very pleased so far.
If I don't open my case to check battery without using the pods, my Airpods battery is fine. Now try this, open it and check battery without taking the pods out for a few times throughout the day, to see if the battery goes down by itself after that.
 

bronksy

macrumors 6502a
Oct 5, 2006
735
469
London
I think.. but not sure this is the correct way to get the pods and case working properly with regards to battery.

Following the firmware update I led the case and pods run to 0% and shut down. I then plugged in and left to charge.
Once charged I then reset the pods (flashing amber light etc) but kept the cable in.
I manually 'forgot' the AirPods as a BT device in settings and gave it 20 mins so be removed from iCloud and all the stuff deleted off the servers and sync etc.

Then once I'd waited I unplugged and re-paired. I've checked a few times today and the pods and case are still at 100%.
 
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