Apple's Airpod Pro and Airpod Pro 2 case/charging design is fundamentally garbage

[computerpro3]

I am so freaking tired of one airpod not charging. I purchased two sets of Airpod Pro 1s SPECIFICALLY because I couldn't rely on them charging all the time. I figured with two of them, one of em had to charge properly each day, right? Nope! They both just started charging a single airpod. It got to the point where both of them would fail to charge more often than not, so I purchased Airpod Pro 2s since I figured my Airpod Pro 1s were just getting beat up.

One week in, the right Airpod 2 is refusing to charge. This is absolute ******** considering I have spent almost $750 on these things. I have tried all the tricks - resetting, using a jewelers screwdriver to further extend the charging contacts, resetting them, cleaning them with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol. Nothing reliably works and replacing them just buys you a week of use before it starts happening again.

How has this gone on so long without a redesign? They are fundamentally useless if I can't charge both of them reliably.

 

[haralds]

I have all of them, AirPod, AirPod g2, AirPod 3, Airpod Pro, AirPod Pro 2, AirPod Max.
I have had zero issues with charging for all of them using Lightning or Qi, where supported in the case.

What is your charging setup?

 

[addamas]

Have you cleaned ends of AirPods buds (metallic part where it touches the charging pads when put into the case)?

 

[chabig]

Since we are sharing anecdotes, I’ve never had a problem.

 

[computerpro3]

I have all of them, AirPod, AirPod g2, AirPod 3, Airpod Pro, AirPod Pro 2, AirPod Max.
I have had zero issues with charging for all of them using Lightning or Qi, where supported in the case.

What is your charging setup?

I am using the OEM case that they came with. The issue is the springs wear out and don't make good contact with the ends of the Airpods.

I am a heavy user of them; I run every single day and then use them for calls several times a day. So I probably average between 5-10 insertion/removal cycles per day.

 

[robertpetry]

Springs? What are these springs to which you are referring? There are charging contacts In the bottom.
I’ve only had this problem when using foam tips like those from Comply. Not really with the Apple tips. I’ve had 3 sets of APP1 and now a set of APP2

 

[chabig]

You said you’ve cleaned the airpod contacts. Have you also cleaned the contacts in the case?

 

[chabig]

Springs? What are these springs to which you are referring? There are charging contacts In the bottom.
I’ve only had this problem when using foam tips like those from Comply. Not really with the Apple tips. I’ve had 3 sets of APP1 and now a set of APP2

That brings up an interesting point. If third party tips are thicker than Apple’s they could prevent the tip from seating correctly on the charging connector.

 

[trazan]

I've never experienced it, and I don't know anyone else with that problem. I make sure they're not wet or dirty when I stick'em in there though.

 

[fgengineer]

I have this problem with the beats, though not so much lately. My wife had the problem with her original AirPods Pro. We return that pair and the new ones did not have that problem.

I find the unreliability very annoying.

 

[AnthroMatt]

I’ve had this problem with AirPods Pro 1 on multiple sets. Yet to have it happen with the 2nd gen.

 

[computerpro3]

Have you cleaned ends of AirPods buds (metallic part where it touches the charging pads when put into the case)?

Of course.

That brings up an interesting point. If third party tips are thicker than Apple’s they could prevent the tip from seating correctly on the charging connector.

This is interesting, I am using OEM Apple tips, but size small. I wonder if something about the small tips doesn't have them align properly as the mediums do.

 

[Ralfi]

This is interesting, I am using OEM Apple tips, but size small. I wonder if something about the small tips doesn't have them align properly as the mediums do.

Take the tips off completely & monitor charging.

This is just a little too much of a coincidence for such a rare problem to happen so regularly to one person. Do you use any skin lotion or sweat heavily near where the charge contacts touch your skin??

 

[computerpro3]

Take the tips off completely & monitor charging.

This is just a little too much of a coincidence for such a rare problem to happen so regularly to one person. Do you use any skin lotion or sweat heavily near where the charge contacts touch your skin??

To be fair, if you google it you will find hundreds of complaints about the exact same thing. I am definitely not the only one. When I googled it, I found tons of people suggesting to use a pick or jewlers screwdriver to pull out the charging contact, and saying that they've had to use AppleCare multiple times per paid. Google "only one airpod charging," "left airpod not charging," "right airpod not charging," etc. It's super common.

I do not use any lotion whatsoever, but they are regularly exposed to sweat, though I honestly don't really even see how it would get on the charging area and it makes no difference if I wipe them off with isopropyl alcohol or not. I run every single day. But I have tried changing up how I put them back in the case, including letting them dry, wiping them off, etc. If it is a problem related to sweat, it's an internal failure and not an external one.

 

[Ralfi]

If it is a problem related to sweat, it's an internal failure and not an external one.

Hmm, it may be too late now, but if you have two sets, maybe assigning one for running & the other for non-active use may help eliminate sweat being the culprit.

 

[computerpro3]

Well, it appears it's the small tips. Apple's OEM small tips are too small and barely touch the case. The medium tips touch the case enough to exert backwards pressure on the stem, pressing them into the charging contacts.

Unreal....I guess I will have to insert a piece of cardboard or something to get them to charge.

 

[Fruit Stand]

To be fair, if you google it you will find hundreds of complaints about the exact same thing. I am definitely not the only one. When I googled it, I found tons of people suggesting to use a pick or jewlers screwdriver to pull out the charging contact, and saying that they've had to use AppleCare multiple times per paid. Google "only one airpod charging," "left airpod not charging," "right airpod not charging," etc. It's super common.

I do not use any lotion whatsoever, but they are regularly exposed to sweat, though I honestly don't really even see how it would get on the charging area and it makes no difference if I wipe them off with isopropyl alcohol or not. I run every single day. But I have tried changing up how I put them back in the case, including letting them dry, wiping them off, etc. If it is a problem related to sweat, it's an internal failure and not an external one.

Google is never a good indication of anything.

Just like how you shouldn’t Google medical symptoms for medical advice.

As someone who’s seen hundreds of AirPods at the Genius Bar, there is an anecdotal issue and is definitely either due to the usage or environmental aspects they are being used in.

This sounds like something you should visit Apple for.

 

[computerpro3]

Google is never a good indication of anything.

That's not even remotely true, you can literally use SEMRush and google analytics to see how many people are searching for specific terms like "only one airpod charging" and related terms, as well as compare that search volume to other terms. For example, so few people are searching for "Why did my macbook explode in polka-dotted splendor" that my tools are coming back with not enough search volume to give results. But there are thousands of queries related to airpod charging problems. This quite literally means that there are thousands of people searching those specific terms.

 

[Fruit Stand]

That's not even remotely true, you can literally use SEMRush and google analytics to see how many people are searching for specific terms like "only one airpod charging" and related terms, as well as compare that search volume to other terms. For example, so few people are searching for "Why did my macbook explode in polka-dotted splendor" that my tools are coming back with not enough search volume to give results. But there are thousands of queries related to airpod charging problems.

Well it is. You’re the one out here complaint about something most of us have not encountered.

I’ve worked in IT and technology support enough to tell you that Googling doesn’t mean EVERYONE is experiencing the same thing sue to the same exact reason.

My doctor friends also say the same thing to their patients but if you don’t want to listen and insist there is a design issue with the AirPods when millions have been sold with this issue being prominent enough even here at MacRumours should tell you it’s something about the usage and not he design.

Figure it out on your own bawd.

 

[seinman]

This happened to me on my first gen APPs, as well as a friend's. So far my 2nd gen are okay.

For the first gens, my fix was cleaning the contacts on the AirPods and in the bottom of the case with isopropyl alcohol. That usually fixed it for a month or two. I use Comply foam tips, and sometimes they don't align correctly because of those, but a wiggle usually fixes it. When wiggles stop working, it's time to clean, in my experience. I haven't tried pulling the charging contacts out yet, but I just might, as I gave my first gen set to a family member so I want to keep them working for a while.

 

[computerpro3]

Well it is. You’re the one out here complaint about something most of us have not encountered.

Then how come there are eight instances in this thread of people reporting it?

Three for me, one for Seinmann, one for Seinmann's friend, AnthroMatt (multiple sets, counted 2), one for FG engineer, and one for FGengineers wife?

My doctor friends also say the same thing to their patients but if you don’t want to listen and insist there is a design issue with the AirPods when millions have been sold with this issue being prominent enough even here at MacRumours

Wrong! Eight reports in this thread, and here's a bunch more with just a quick two seconds search. Many users reporting multiple issues with multiple pairs, as I have (and others have in this thread).

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/one-airpod-not-charged-from-case.2212501/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/one-of-the-airpods-either-not-charging-or-losing-charge-even-within-the-case.2125739/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-1st-gen-battery-and-charging-problem.2318211/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-pro-not-charging-equally.2352739/

 

[Mcrumors David]

I am using the OEM case that they came with. The issue is the springs wear out and don't make good contact with the ends of the Airpods.

I am a heavy user of them; I run every single day and then use them for calls several times a day. So I probably average between 5-10 insertion/removal cycles per day.

Well. I have 2x Pro first-gen and now the new Gen. I have had that problem BECAUSE I also run every day (it's constantly 28-30+ degrees here, everything including shoes is just drenched in sweat) ...so, I after my run I leave the case open for 1-2h after having rinsed the airpods (with sweet water) so everything is clean and dry🐦
Since I have been doing this: 0 problems charging👩🏼‍🏭

 

[Fruit Stand]

Well. I have 2x Pro first-gen and now the new Gen. I have had that problem BECAUSE I also run every day (it's constantly 28-30+ degrees here, everything including shoes is just drenched in sweat) ...so, I after my run I leave the case open for 1-2h after having rinsed the airpods (with sweet water) so everything is clean and dry🐦
Since I have been doing this: 0 problems charging👩🏼‍🏭

Well well, others might be having the same symptoms but it seems like the usage and environmental are what's contributing to this issue as I said above.

The title of this tread and the original post plus the replies from the OP insist its a design issue when its clearly a sweat, grime and dirt issue with the contacts becoming contaminated.

A whole thread blowing things out of proportion.

 

[scrane]

How has this gone on so long without a redesign? They are fundamentally useless if I can't charge both of them reliably.

If I were you I'd return the Airpods and move on to something different.

 

[Ralfi]

Well, it appears it's the small tips. Apple's OEM small tips are too small and barely touch the case. The medium tips touch the case enough to exert backwards pressure on the stem, pressing them into the charging contacts.

Unreal....I guess I will have to insert a piece of cardboard or something to get them to charge.

Just to be sure, you haven’t mixed your Gen 2 AirPods & Gen 1 case?

& did you try charging them with the tips off completely?

This may be a silly question, but I’m not sure if both stem contacts need to be touching or just one? Are they like a battery (+ve & -ve) or is the second contact a ‘backup’ to allow for some movement in the case & if one of them stops making contact with the stem?