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borgqueenx

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 16, 2010
1,357
258
since this is quite a price for bluetooth earphones and the battery is not replacable AND fast charging is usually not good for batteries either... i wonder if the 5 hours of battery life will still be valid for after 1 or 2 years...or will we have to pay this price for every 2 years?
 

blaine07

macrumors 68020
Nov 14, 2014
2,498
2,454
Oklahoma
At their price point I don't see them lasting more than 2-3 years TOPS--provided they don't get lost or broken before that point. I'm sure after the 2 year mark battery life will diminish rapidly.
 
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borgqueenx

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 16, 2010
1,357
258
At their price point I don't see them lasting more than 2-3 years TOPS--provided they don't get lost or broken before that point. I'm sure after the 2 year mark battery life will diminish rapidly.
I have the feeling it will be less. After 2 years the iPhone begins to lose the ability to properly hold a charge. With fast charge it will be very difficult for them to last 2 years i think.
 
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borgqueenx

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 16, 2010
1,357
258
A lot of the reason they charge so fast is just how tiny the batteries are. They just don't hold a lot of charge, so don't take that long to charge.
I hope you're right, but since they take long for the remaining time i do feel it has to do with fast charging...
I dont like that these things will be useless and not battery replacable...
 

AlphaHumanus

macrumors 6502a
Feb 12, 2012
514
85
Valid concern in my eyes. Personally, I'm looking forward to airpods series 2 or whatever, as I'm sure the battery life will be lengthened.
 

sunapple

macrumors 68030
Jul 16, 2013
2,841
5,482
The Netherlands
Valid concern in my eyes. Personally, I'm looking forward to airpods series 2 or whatever, as I'm sure the battery life will be lengthened.

They won't bring a solution to the concerns of a short life span as they probably won't change the design to incorporate a larger battery. Expect future updates to the firmware rather than hardware.

We're all waiting on better battery technology. It will change everything.
 

Gav2k

macrumors G3
Jul 24, 2009
9,216
1,608
It's not fast charging it's just a tiny tiny battery.

That aside if they last me 2 years I'm fine with that I'll just replace them.
 

Alvi

macrumors 65816
Oct 31, 2008
1,209
311
Mars
Yeah, I guess it's kind of sucky that probably most of our bluetooth speakers or headphones have an expiration date. It's kind of a weird thing because until now, most audio gear investments lasted longer, I mean I still use a JBL OnStage speaker that I bought 10 years ago for my iPod, and that's because good quality sound was as good 20 years ago and it will probably be about the same in another 20 years.

Apple makes great batteries, and they really hold their charge like on day one even after a long time.
 
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jyn1989

macrumors newbie
Oct 11, 2016
28
23
I've had mine for about 3 years and they're still working great!

time travel??
[doublepost=1490071412][/doublepost]
Yeah, I guess it's kind of sucky that probably most of our bluetooth speakers or headphones have an expiration date. It's kind of a weird thing because until now, most audio gear investments lasted longer, I mean I still use a JBL OnStage speaker that I bought 10 years ago for my iPod, and that's because good quality sound was as good 20 years ago and it will probably be about the same in another 20 years.

Apple makes great batteries, and they really hold their charge like on day one even after a long time.
usually speakers doenst spoil that easily. My creative and logitech lasts for over 10 years until i decided to retired them for a newer one. Otherwise, another 5 years shouldnt be a problem at all.

Not so sure about highly mobile, wireless, tech filled airpods. If i can get 2 years out of mine, Ill be extremely happy. But i think ill probably purchase a new tech by the end of its first year!
 
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noteple

macrumors 68000
Aug 30, 2011
1,527
549
By the time the battery expectance falls below 50 % you will be on to the next magical product and the
AirPods will be a hand me down
 

japanime

macrumors 68030
Feb 27, 2006
2,916
4,846
Japan
I've had mine for about 3 years and they're still working great!
Mine are going strong after 18 years!

Oh, wait, I'm talking about my Etymotic ER4 microPros — with no expiration in sight.

I'll be very pleased if my AirPods last 3 years. (I'm guessing they'll last 2 years.)
 
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CPTmom2wp

macrumors 6502
Sep 10, 2014
417
481
Ohio
I previously used BOSE BT earpieces that I loved for the sound quality and noise cancelling capabilities. Battery degradation caused me to replace one after 4 years and I lost the other one after 2 years. They stopped making them, so I replaced the $185 BOSE earpiece with the Apple $150 AirPods. I needed a one ear, cordless, solution for driving and, apparently, enough people have hands free enabled vehicles now that it is no longer feasible to make a quality earpiece for drivers. The Bose lasted about an hour of talk time prior to needing a recharge. It was also a bit glitchy when connecting up with the phone. So my thinking was that I could use the AirPods in one ear for an hour, put in case to recharge and use the other side while the first was recharging, rinse, repeat.
I was not prepared for how amazing the AirPods were in that they connect up immediately and seamlessly to my phone, but that each one lasts about 2 hours on a charge with much superior sound quality to the Bose. So, not only do I have a total of 4 hours talk/listening time with both earpieces used independently, but then still have 20?? multiple hours (never run out yet on a trip) left with the charging case. No cords, no outlets to find......freedom!

Bonus points.........for amazing stereo, noise abating sound when I use both together to listen to music.
Bonus points........for staying in my ears and a weightless feeling when walking my dogs and using my iWatch to listen to podcasts
Bonus points.......for having a nifty little case that keeps me from losing them :0))

I've only had mine a year without any noticeable degradation, but will happily pay for another set should that become necessary in 2-3 years. Quality like this is not inexpensive. Oh, and BTW, my 33 year old son says that these are the best gift I have ever given him.
 

Plett

macrumors 6502
Feb 16, 2016
315
247
Ordered mine for delivery on Dec 19, 2016. Clearly they have not been available for 2 years, let alone 3. I can say with daily use the battery is meh. Ok for listening to music, podcasts whatever, but calls really zap the little batteries. Although expensive, relatively speaking who cares if you only get a couple years out of them. If you really just don't like the idea of buying a new set, just use the wired ones included with your phone.
 

Michael CM1

macrumors 603
Feb 4, 2008
5,682
277
Yeah, I guess it's kind of sucky that probably most of our bluetooth speakers or headphones have an expiration date. It's kind of a weird thing because until now, most audio gear investments lasted longer, I mean I still use a JBL OnStage speaker that I bought 10 years ago for my iPod, and that's because good quality sound was as good 20 years ago and it will probably be about the same in another 20 years.

Apple makes great batteries, and they really hold their charge like on day one even after a long time.

That's just the reality of Li-Ion batteries. Bill Nye says constantly that if you want to be rich, build a better battery. If someone made a battery that could replace Li-Ion and only lose 15 percent of its charge in two years, that person would get rich if it didn't cost too much. Same thing with a battery that holds 5 percent more amps in the same volume. With these things like Solar City's Powerwall and all sorts of EVs coming out, batteries are just a bottleneck and potential gold mine.
 

eRuss78

macrumors newbie
Aug 13, 2018
1
1
Florida
I've had mine for about 3 years and they're still working great!
Lol they weren’t even out 6 months when you posted this how did you have them for 3yrs lol.
[doublepost=1534169072][/doublepost]I actually have owned them since release in December of 2016. I was one of the lucky ones to get them right away but now the battery sucks for music listening if I get 2hrs I’m lucky and phone calls that used to be around 2hrs if I get 30mins that’s it so 18montha later it’s looking like a every two yr purchase Which I wouldn’t mind if they offered AppleCare. The fact that they didn’t tells you that even Apple knows that the life expectancy is short.
 
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Statusnone88

macrumors 68000
Jun 19, 2010
1,579
832
I've had mine for about 3 years and they're still working great!

Considering they came out around Christmas 2016, I think you’re exaggerating just a tad.

I’ve had mine since they were available (December 2016) and the battery life is severely diminished. But, then again, I use mine every single day for multiple hours a day, so it’s to be expected.

Edit: I’m an idiot. Didn’t even notice the person who posted that, posted it in March 2017. I got trolled hard. :(
 
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