AirPods case bad standby battery life

[alFR]

My expectation was that I'd be able to use these for an hour or two each day, and just charge them once every 2 weeks or so. The way they presented battery life claims and the way they tested was very misleading.

My thoughts also. Don't know if I'd call it misleading though, I still think there may be a hardware/software issue in at least some of the production units because none of the reviews I read mentioned any significant standby drain (apart from Ars Technica, who quoted about 10% case drain / day with no use). There was some other charging weirdness with mine as well, e.g. after leaving them overnight on opening the case the right bud was at 75% and the left was at 100%. It corrected itself a short while later, presumably because opening the case / waking them up made the case realise it needed to charge the right bud. This makes me think the firmware maybe needs some work.

A friend of mine in particular is worried that he'll charge them, and keep them in his bag, but if he goes to use them several days later they may be dead. I mean, other bluetooth headsets I've been using for years, including ones with small batteries will last for weeks when not in use..

Agree with both these points, which is why I've returned mine. They work well for what they are but the drain in standby means they just don't fit my use case.

 

[Phil A.]

^Well put @NauticalDan

At the end of the day, battery life is good, but I don't understand why the battery is draining while not in use. A friend of mine in particular is worried that he'll charge them, and keep them in his bag, but if he goes to use them several days later they may be dead. I mean, other bluetooth headsets I've been using for years, including ones with small batteries will last for weeks when not in use.

And there still seems to be a discrepancy between some who have little to no battery drain on standby while others do experience it.

The reason other headsets last for ages is you turn them off between use - if you leave them on they'll typically drain much faster

I've not seen any issues with mine, but then again I've just been using them and not worrying about constantly checking the battery.

I've got an iPhone dock on my bedside cabinet which I put the charge case on overnight because it holds it and makes it easier to put the AirPods in when I want to go to sleep so I wake up every morning with a fully charged case

The only data apart from that I've noticed is that when I first take them out abut 3-4 hours later both AirPods and the case are at 100%

 

[profets]

Everyone I've seen claim "no battery drain" are showing a snapshot of a few hours or a day. I could have claimed that for 20 hours yesterday - my case drained only 3%. It really has to be evaluated with the sum of standby + use over an entire discharge cycle.

My wife's AirPods, I put a few screenshots of. At 24 hours they were 100%. After 36 hours they were 99%. Going to check this morning once she's up. Could hers be a fluke?

My original AirPods, not quite yet 24 hours off charge, with no use are at 55%. I'll keep waiting to see if the discharge rate slows, but otherwise losing full charge in a little over 2 days is going to be problematic.
[doublepost=1483183330][/doublepost]

The reason other headsets last for ages is you turn them off between use - if you leave them on they'll typically drain much faster

I've not seen any issues with mine, but then again I've just been using them and not worrying about constantly checking the battery.

I've got an iPhone dock on my bedside cabinet which I put the charge case on overnight because it holds it and makes it easier to put the AirPods in when I want to go to sleep so I wake up every morning with a fully charged case

The only data apart from that I've noticed is that when I first take them out abut 3-4 hours later both AirPods and the case are at 100%

I agree - but shouldn't the act of putting the AirPods in the case effectively power them down? I think that's where the unknown part of this equation currently lies. We don't really know what the AirPods are doing when in the case and closed.

Actually one of the Bluetooth devices I used for over a year was a Moto Hint. Like a single AirPod almost, though with pretty poor audio quality. It sits in a little charging case when you're not using it. When you take it out and it makes contact with your ear it powers on. Quite similar to how the AirPods function in that regard.

 

[deuxani]

I'm in the process of draining the batteries and I noticed a big difference between both AirPods. On day one I already noticed my right AirPod would always have 1% less whenever they would get below 100%. However after draining the case my left still has 15% and the right one is already dead.

Do you guys notice the same trend with one AirPod draining quicker than the other? I'm in the process of recalibrating them so maybe that will help.

 

[profets]

Quick update - 48 hours later my wife's AirPods are 100% and the case is at 93%.

I'm in the process of draining the batteries and I noticed a big difference between both AirPods. On day one I already noticed my right AirPod would always have 1% less whenever they would get below 100%. However after draining the case my left still has 15% and the right one is already dead.

Do you guys notice the same trend with one AirPod draining quicker than the other? I'm in the process of recalibrating them so maybe that will help.

Tough for me to say, as I use a single AirPod more often than using both.

 

[matthijst]

I don't get it.

My wife's AirPods after nearly 36 hours:

Something definitely isn't right. My original pair that has discharged to 73% in 11 hours, I'm going to let them die completely without using them at all. Curious how long it'll take.

Wondering of you and your wife have similar other Apple equipment?
Do you both have an iPad, MacBook?
Curious if it has something to do with multiple devices that would be able to use the AirPods because they're synced through iCloud.


Turned off Bluetooth on my iPhone and iPad yesterday and after 8 hours of sleep both case and AirPods were at the same level as they were when I went to bed.
With BT on they lose 9-10% every 7-8 hours.

 

[jsmitty]

I checked my AirPod case before going to bed last night and this morning the charge was unchanged at 42%. A couple of nights ago when I tested at 100% it wend down 4%. This all was on the same charge cycle for the case - I haven't plugged it in for the last couple of days.

 

[profets]

Wondering of you and your wife have similar other Apple equipment?
Do you both have an iPad, MacBook?
Curious if it has something to do with multiple devices that would be able to use the AirPods because they're synced through iCloud.


Turned off Bluetooth on my iPhone and iPad yesterday and after 8 hours of sleep both case and AirPods were at the same level as they were when I went to bed.
With BT on they lose 9-10% every 7-8 hours.

I was thinking about that too. Good thought, as she does have several fewer devices than I. My wife has an iPhone, Watch and a MacBook. I have an iPhone, Watch, iPad and 3 Macs (at different locations). I was wondering if that difference was causing it. So I started unpairing a few of the Macs. But that process is just like unpairing from the iPhone - it uses iCloud to unpair from everything.

But having said that, still brings me back to the same thought. Are these AirPods actively doing something while in the case?

 

[matthijst]

I checked my AirPod case before going to bed last night and this morning the charge was unchanged at 42%. A couple of nights ago when I tested at 100% it wend down 4%. This all was on the same charge cycle for the case - I haven't plugged it in for the last couple of days.

Any other apple devices that you use with the same Apple ID?

 

[NauticalDan]

I don't think u can just look at a single 24-48 period or a 10-20% change and make a conclusion. Look at the full charge cycle, and you have to sum up your standby and use.

Here's an update on my use / checking log (I usually only use them at gym and yesterday was my rest day):

Thurs 1330 - AirPods 98 / case 100
Fri 0500 - AirPods 100 / case 97
Fri 0600 - AirPods 97 / case 97
(used for 30 min, music)
Fri 0630 - AirPods 89 / case 96
Fri 0800 - AirPods 100 / case 87
Fri 1200 - AirPods 100 / case 81
Fri 1600 - AirPods 100 / case 75
Sat 0700 - AirPods 100 / case 72

The overnight ones are interesting. Very little case drain. phone, watch, all about the same distance away from pods. I think it's just variation in the battery reading. It'll speed up over the next day or two and average out to show about a 3% per hour standby drain in AirPods (and corresponding case drain of about 15-20% per day).

But point is, you can just look at an overnight period or a day or two sitting in the case doing nothing and compare to someone else's small period of time or sample and say one is wrong the other right.

 

[profets]

I don't think u can just look at a single 24-48 period or a 10-20% change and make a conclusion. Look at the full charge cycle, and you have to sum up your standby and use.

Here's an update on my use / checking log (I usually only use them at gym and yesterday was my rest day):

Thurs 1330 - AirPods 98 / case 100
Fri 0500 - AirPods 100 / case 97
Fri 0600 - AirPods 97 / case 97
(used for 30 min, music)
Fri 0630 - AirPods 89 / case 96
Fri 0800 - AirPods 100 / case 87
Fri 1200 - AirPods 100 / case 81
Fri 1600 - AirPods 100 / case 75
Sat 0700 - AirPods 100 / case 72

The overnight ones are interesting. Very little case drain. phone, watch, all about the same distance away from pods. I think it's just variation in the battery reading. It'll speed up over the next day or two and average out to show about a 3% per hour standby drain in AirPods (and corresponding case drain of about 15-20% per day).

But point is, you can just look at an overnight period or a day or two sitting in the case doing nothing and compare to someone else's small period of time or sample and say one is wrong the other right.

I'm more curious to see data over multiple days as well. Luckily I have a few pairs I can test in that regard.

My original one (the case) is currently at 39% after 27 hours without the AirPods ever being taken out or used. I wonder once the case dies how quickly the AirPods will drain as well. Wondering if fully depleting the battery and then doing a full charge will help calibrate or change something.

 

[Eduardboon]

Today I charged everything to 100 percent. Have not used it from 9 am till 5pm when I checked battery; the case had an orange light, right airpod was at 94, left one at 98. The case itself at 60. Without use.

They drain slower when used. Have reset the airpods a couple of times, but doesn't matter at all.

Also; I think the airpods don't connect properly inside the case; sometimes the iPhone widget shows the right one and the case or the left one and the case and I have to push a bit on the airpods to make it show both.

 

[NauticalDan]

Today I charged everything to 100 percent. Have not used it from 9 am till 5pm when I checked battery; the case had an orange light, right airpod was at 94, left one at 98. The case itself at 60. Without use.

If the case actually keeps draining that fast, it does sound like a problem. But I'd let it go to zero first and see. Could be just bad battery percentage. Otherwise, actually listening to music for the same period of time shouldn't have used that much battery!

Once my battery is dead on this charge cycle, I'm going to charge them up and turn automatic ear detection off and keep a log for a full charge cycle on that to see if any difference.

The professional reviews didn't mention battery issues. But I don't recall any extensive battery tests and monitoring either. If you just charge them every day or two, you'd probably think the battery life is great! I actually listened to my AirPods for almost 6 hours before they died a few days ago. And they were 100% charged again in 30 min. So in that respect, they are great!

I'll admit it, I'm just being a bit OCD now and want to understand them more and what normal standby time / energy use is expected.

 

[profets]

If the case actually keeps draining that fast, it does sound like a problem. But I'd let it go to zero first and see. Could be just bad battery percentage. Otherwise, actually listening to music for the same period of time shouldn't have used that much battery!

Once my battery is dead on this charge cycle, I'm going to charge them up and turn automatic ear detection off and keep a log for a full charge cycle on that to see if any difference.

The professional reviews didn't mention battery issues. But I don't recall any extensive battery tests and monitoring either. If you just charge them every day or two, you'd probably think the battery life is great! I actually listened to my AirPods for almost 6 hours before they died a few days ago. And they were 100% charged again in 30 min. So in that respect, they are great!

I'll admit it, I'm just being a bit OCD now and want to understand them more and what normal standby time / energy use is expected.

Agreed. It's a tough thing to notice I think as the battery life is generally excellent for small buds, and recharging them is very fast and convenient to the point that you really don't notice or gauge how fast the case is discharging.

 

[jonnyb098]

Wondering of you and your wife have similar other Apple equipment?
Do you both have an iPad, MacBook?
Curious if it has something to do with multiple devices that would be able to use the AirPods because they're synced through iCloud.


Turned off Bluetooth on my iPhone and iPad yesterday and after 8 hours of sleep both case and AirPods were at the same level as they were when I went to bed.
With BT on they lose 9-10% every 7-8 hours.

I was wondering the same thing. I have and iPhone and iPad Pro. In my apartment all devices are always within 30 ft of eachother. Might be causing constant connection standby to 2 devices. I get the trypical 25 percent per day case drain. Airpods drain at about 2 percent per hour.

 

[0970373]

Curious if it has something to do with multiple devices that would be able to use the AirPods because they're synced through iCloud.

I was starting to wonder the same thing. It automatically adds it to the pairing list for iOS devices. My MacBook Pro & ATV4 had to be paired separately. I'm in the process of draining the airpods and recharging them. I'm going to do another cycle under the same conditions as my last 24 hour test and then try to do one where all other iOS devices except my main iPhone are turned off, MBP & ATV4 not paired.

 

[NauticalDan]

So if I were to believe the batter meter, it drained 3% in 15 hours last night and 7% in 2.5 hours this morning.

I'm gonna bet it drained the same. Just inaccurate batter meter. But will keep up with the log!

Thurs 1330 - AirPods 98 / case 100
Fri 0500 - AirPods 100 / case 97
Fri 0600 - AirPods 97 / case 97
(used for 30 min, music)
Fri 0630 - AirPods 89 / case 96
Fri 0800 - AirPods 100 / case 87
Fri 1200 - AirPods 100 / case 81
Fri 1600 - AirPods 100 / case 75
Sat 0700 - AirPods 100 / case 72
Sat 0930 - AirPods 100 / case 65

 

[profets]

I'm at 32 hours since a full charge and 0 use. 22% case battery.

 

[s2smooth4u]

My last full charge of the case and headphones was thursday night at 9pm. Today the case is at 40% and I have not used the headphones since they were last charged. Case battery life seems legit to me, but my only concern is how much battery the case loses in 15min of charging the headphones.

I've gone down to 50% after charging for 15 min. Has anyone else noticed this problem?

 

[daffie]

The curious case of the airpods continues...

Charged the case and airpods to 100% and now exactly 24 hours later without opening the case at all, the case barely dropped any...99% left! The complete opposite of earlier tests in which the case dropped as much as 30% in 24 hours.

I'm completely at a loss...maybe the new year will bring more clarification

Happy new year everyone!

 

[nheilweil]

Took them off charger both at 100%.

Didn't touch them for 24-hours. They are at: AirPods 100%, Case 82%. Gonna see if I can get mine swapped out.

 

[imaginex20]

Having mine shipped out by Best Buy for replacement/repair. Noon today the case was at 55% with the AirPods at 100% and I did not use them at all and at 4:30 PM they're at 22%

 

[Eduardboon]

I'm at 58 percent now after 10 hours of standby. No usage.

 

[daffie]

The curious case of the airpods continues...

Charged the case and airpods to 100% and now exactly 24 hours later without opening the case at all, the case barely dropped any...99% left! The complete opposite of earlier tests in which the case dropped as much as 30% in 24 hours.

I'm completely at a loss...maybe the new year will bring more clarification

Happy new year everyone!

Now just about 12 hours later without opening the case nor using the airpods during that time, the battery of the case is now at 85%.

So basically the first 24 hours...1% battery usage, then opened the case just once and closed it again...12 hours later battery has lost 14%...

These things are a conundrum!

 

[profets]

Alright, 48 hours from a full charge and no use, the case is at 5% and AirPods at 93%.