AirPods don't retain a charge; Apple says buy new ones

[jk73]

I know there are threads for this already, but I wanted to add my voice to the chorus when it comes to AirPod battery degradation and Apple's poor customer service related thereto.

My AirPods are two years old and I rarely get an hour of audio playback per charge. Somehow, this is still barely within spec for Apple, according to their phone support, and the only recommendation was the $69/each replacement.

Aside from the fact that it's absurd to expect customers to pay $150 every two years for new AirPods, the replacement program is an insult to people's intelligence. Why would anyone pay $138 for two new AirPods when they can get a new set plus a charging case for ~$150?

As someone who's been an Apple customer since the 1980s, this is very disappointing.

 

[chabig]

The solution seems easy--get a new pair with case. I think we all knew when we bought these that the batteries are not serviceable. It doesn't matter how long you've been a customer.

 

[revmacian]

I know there are threads for this already, but I wanted to add my voice to the chorus when it comes to AirPod battery degradation and Apple's poor customer service related thereto.

My AirPods are two years old and I rarely get an hour of audio playback per charge. Somehow, this is still barely within spec for Apple, according to their phone support, and the only recommendation was the $69/each replacement.

Aside from the fact that it's absurd to expect customers to pay $150 every two years for new AirPods, the replacement program is an insult to people's intelligence. Why would anyone pay $138 for two new AirPods when they can get a new set plus a charging case for ~$150?

As someone who's been an Apple customer since the 1980s, this is very disappointing.

Times change and large companies like Apple must change with the times lest it be left behind. The question is.. will you change with the times or be left behind?

 

[jk73]

Times change and large companies like Apple must change with the times lest it be left behind. The question is.. will you change with the times or be left behind?

What is this even supposed to mean?

 

[revmacian]

What is this even supposed to mean?

It just sounded to me like you're still living in the past and "the way things used to be". You mentioned that you'd been an Apple customer since the 1980's as if that entitles you to something. Well, it's not 1980 anymore and companies have to change to keep up with new tech and trends or they become irrelevant. It just sounds like your perspective hasn't changed with the times. Relax, it's just my opinion. Apple isn't the only game in town.

 

[Benhamdoun]

Don't buy replacements as it only encourages Apple's greed. I have just bought some remarkably good bluetooth earphones that magnetically fit in a carrying case that has enough juice for 4 recharges before you have to charge the case off the mains. £30 off Amazon, look stylish, work well and good sound.

 

[jk73]

It just sounded to me like you're still living in the past and "the way things used to be". You mentioned that you'd been an Apple customer since the 1980's as if that entitles you to something. Well, it's not 1980 anymore and companies have to change to keep up with new tech and trends or they become irrelevant. It just sounds like your perspective hasn't changed with the times. Relax, it's just my opinion. Apple isn't the only game in town.

What exactly has changed since the 1980s that would make this MORE acceptable? Apple had $237,100,000,000 in cash on hand as of Nov. 2018. What's the excuse for treating customers like suckers?

 

[chabig]

What exactly has changed since the 1980s that would make this MORE acceptable?

The miniaturization of technology has improved since the 1980s. Today’s products could not be manufactured then. Remember portable camcorders the size of a backpack? Buying tiny devices that perform useful functions for you them doesn’t make you a sucker.

 

[jk73]

The miniaturization of technology has improved since the 1980s. Today’s products could not be manufactured then. Remember portable camcorders the size of a backpack? Buying tiny devices that perform useful functions for you them doesn’t make you a sucker.

Non sequitur. The "sucker" part has to do with a company charging loyal customers $160 for a product that apparently has an 18-month life expectancy, if that.

 

[chabig]

You seem to be on a loyalty kick. There is no reward for loyalty. Apple makes a product. You buy it or don’t.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Non sequitur. The "sucker" part has to do with a company charging loyal customers $160 for a product that apparently has an 18-month life expectancy, if that.

Which is it 18 or 24 months? You did say 2 years.. $6.66 each month for 2 years sounds like a good lifespan considering the batteries in the pods themselves are tiny..

 

[Analog Kid]

I know there are threads for this already, but I wanted to add my voice to the chorus when it comes to AirPod battery degradation and Apple's poor customer service related thereto.

My AirPods are two years old and I rarely get an hour of audio playback per charge. Somehow, this is still barely within spec for Apple, according to their phone support, and the only recommendation was the $69/each replacement.

Aside from the fact that it's absurd to expect customers to pay $150 every two years for new AirPods, the replacement program is an insult to people's intelligence. Why would anyone pay $138 for two new AirPods when they can get a new set plus a charging case for ~$150?

As someone who's been an Apple customer since the 1980s, this is very disappointing.

Had the same problem and bought a new set. They could have made the Airpods bigger, heavier and uglier to include a larger or replaceable battery, but I prefer the Airpods as they are and understand that the itty bitty LiIon batteries in there won't last forever.

[doublepost=1546745314][/doublepost]

Non sequitur. The "sucker" part has to do with a company charging loyal customers $160 for a product that apparently has an 18-month life expectancy, if that.

After two years, you're looking at something like $0.25 a day.

Batteries don't have a life in years, they have a life in recharge cycles. If yours are failing, it's because you've gotten a lot of use out of them. You're complaining because you literally loved your Airpods to death...

 

[NoBoMac]

Batteries don't have a life in years, they have a life in recharge cycles. If yours are failing, it's because you've gotten a lot of use out of them. You're complaining because you literally loved your Airpods to death...

This.

And this is why I did not pull the plug on getting Airpods, Jabra 65, Bose SoundSport, etc.: pricey for what are in essence consumables (and having to use Siri for some basic functions with Airpods). Cheapo Bluetooth devices for me as can go through 5-6 pairs for same total cost.

 

[Pepe4life]

Times change and large companies like Apple must change with the times lest it be left behind. The question is.. will you change with the times or be left behind?

Always amusing to see people trying to sound smarter than they really are

 

[revmacian]

Always amusing to see people trying to sound smarter than they really are

Always amusing to see those who don't study psychology.

 

[jk73]

Always amusing to see those who don't study psychology.

Psychology is junk science, as you're showing us here.

Anyway, it's incredible to see the number of Apple apologists here. MBP and iPhone batteries degrade, too, but no one would say that 18 months is an acceptable lifespan for an MBP or iPhone. Apple never even hinted that users should be prepared to buy new AirPods every 18-24 months.

 

[marina2042]

If you have a credit card that offers extended warranty, not a bad idea to use it. I did that with mine and purchased a different brand which offers a two year warranty (Sennheiser).

 

[upandown]

The new version will probably be out soon. Just get those.

The batteries are small so you probably won’t get the life out of them compared to a MacBook. Sounds like you got good use out of them.
[doublepost=1546877213][/doublepost]

Psychology is junk science, as you're showing us here.

Junk science? Lmao.

Yeah you’re right, we also didn’t land on the moon.

 

[jk73]

The batteries are small so you probably won’t get the life out of them compared to a MacBook. Sounds like you got good use out of them.

What was that you were saying about psychology?

Where did I say anything about "getting good use out of them"? I wasn't exactly using them 12 hours per day for the last two years.

 

[Pepe4life]

Psychology is junk science, as you're showing us here.

Anyway, it's incredible to see the number of Apple apologists here. MBP and iPhone batteries degrade, too, but no one would say that 18 months is an acceptable lifespan for an MBP or iPhone. Apple never even hinted that users should be prepared to buy new AirPods every 18-24 months.

They are not apple apologists, they are apple shareholders who lost tons of money (haha.) and are doing everything they can to defend the company to stop another nosedive in their stocks

 

[Willy2015]

I know there are threads for this already, but I wanted to add my voice to the chorus when it comes to AirPod battery degradation and Apple's poor customer service related thereto.

My AirPods are two years old and I rarely get an hour of audio playback per charge. Somehow, this is still barely within spec for Apple, according to their phone support, and the only recommendation was the $69/each replacement.

Aside from the fact that it's absurd to expect customers to pay $150 every two years for new AirPods, the replacement program is an insult to people's intelligence. Why would anyone pay $138 for two new AirPods when they can get a new set plus a charging case for ~$150?

As someone who's been an Apple customer since the 1980s, this is very disappointing.

[doublepost=1546893402][/doublepost]Apple does offer battery service for AirPods. $49 per pod

 

[steve knight]

the problem with the airpods is that as the batteries wear your going to charge more often. fully charge them. so the battery gets cycled more often then a phone. I had two sets to make it through the day so each one was charged fully twice a day now as they have worn out it is 4 ties a day so they cycle far more then a phone does.

 

[FyerFyer]

Mate, I have a pair of Anker Bluetooth headphones with a mic and they sound 10x better than Airpods.

You cant do anything with airpods unless you look at your phone. Try the Ankers, youll be happy

 

[jk73]

[doublepost=1546893402][/doublepost]Apple does offer battery service for AirPods. $49 per pod

Not really. As I understand it, Apple tosses the old ones and ships new ones. The $49 is just a phony-baloney discount for in-warranty "repairs" (vs. the $69 out-of-warranty "repair"). Not sure why anyone would ever pay the $49 rather than demand warranty replacements.

 

[steve knight]

Mate, I have a pair of Anker Bluetooth headphones with a mic and they sound 10x better than Airpods.

You cant do anything with airpods unless you look at your phone. Try the Ankers, youll be happy

I doubt they sound 10x better. but they are not the same thing now are they? I don't want earbuds that insert into my ears. they just squirt out then the sound suffers. plus the stick out so when I wear a hat in winter or my earmuffs in my woodworking shop they get pressed on. Plus they have a hell of a lot better range then anything else. they are not perfect though for sure.