Do AirPods Max have power button?

[MecPro]

This may or may not be accurate. Did they actually test it?

This is the test I have done so far. I have had these lest than 24 hours so... need to do a lot more obviously but.

1) I used them straight for over 4 hours. 15% battery drain. or 1% per 16 minutes.
2) Then I took them off and put them down on the table for 15 hours straight. 8% battery drain. or 1 % per 100 minutes.

Now maybe this 8% drain was the first two hours only and THEN it went to 0% drain for the next 13 hours. If so, I can live with that, assuming I can not bring myself to use the case. That means if I dont want to use them for a month, no problem. But I doubt this is the case. why? Speakers are mechanical devices. It takes power to move the speaker membrane to push air to make sound. So it makes no sense the drain rate on or off is the same regardless if on the head and in use, or sitting quiet on a table. my guess is there is a reduction in power use when off the head for 2 hours, and then a further slower reduction after that as bluetooth powered down (when not in case)

Good info. Thanks.

I think for me the issue is just the fact they still drain battery no matter what due to the fact they can’t be turned off.

 

[G5isAlive]

Turn them what.
Off or deep sleep with BLE beacon?

I think Airpods Max have 3 states
1) on and connected to device (maximum power draw)
2) on and ready sitting on the table (low power draw)
3) on and in deep sleep (ultralow power draw), with BLE beacon for “Find my”

Going from 2 to 3 can be accomplished in 4 different ways, I think
a) put them inside the smart case
or
b) don’t use them and don’t move them for 2 hours
or
c) press and hold the button for 10 seconds
or
d) when battery is very low


Then there’s the actual off state achievable only when the battery is completely and utterly dead.

DISCLAIMER: this post reflects what I have understood so far, don’t take it as fact

Thanks for trying to figure this stuff out. I am a tad disappointed that Apple didnt tell us more, or maybe I just haven't found the right document yet, but eh, Apple does like its mystery sometimes. BTW, dont get me wrong, I like Apple products, own the AirPod Max in fact, but trying to figure out when and how it uses power so that I can optimize my routine is.. challenging.

In particular, I have NOT been able to turn off my Max's by holding down any logical combination of the buttons. I have managed to confuse it though lol. Help!

 

[G5isAlive]

Good info. Thanks.

I think for me it’s just the fact they still drain battery no matter what due to the fact they can’t be turned off.

yeah, that is a bummer. I think you are right, its their whole minimalist approach. but in real use, how often do I power off any of my devices? rarely. these might be the exception. I just want to figure this out so I can use them the best. Because right now I have a choice, learn to live with it, or return them. I really enjoy using them so returning would be difficult for me

 

[mcaswell]

my guess is there is a reduction in power use when off the head for 2 hours, and then a further slower reduction after that as bluetooth powered down (when not in case)

I'm not even sure about the 2 hour thing. What is that supposed to "look like"? I put mine down last night at around 8:00 (battery level was 99%), and then 12 hours later when I opened my computer, the battery level was 93%. So, like you, I was assuming most of that 6% loss came during the initial 2 hours. But then I realized, if the headphones were powered down like we all assume they would after 2 hours, why was I able to see the battery level? Furthermore, as soon as I put them on, I got the normal "connected" sound.

Now, I just put them in the case, in the battery level indicator DID disappear on my computer

So, in other words, it doesn't appear that the 2 hour low power thing is the same as when they are put in the case.

 

[MecPro]

yeah, that is a bummer. I think you are right, its their whole minimalist approach. but in real use, how often do I power off any of my devices? rarely. these might be the exception. I just want to figure this out so I can use them the best. Because right now I have a choice, learn to live with it, or return them. I really enjoy using them so returning would be difficult for me

As long as you enjoy them, that’s the key.

I turn my Bose NC-700 off all the time just out of habit and nature and knowing if I don’t touch them for a few days they’ll still have the same battery. It’s quick and not really a hassle.

I’ll keep my eye on the subject as I still want to buy them, as I plan to go for a short European trip in February and have 4 hour train ride to Amsterdam so I hope to have them for then.

 

[mcaswell]

Dupe post, sorry.

 

[MecPro]

So, in other words, it doesn't appear that the 2 hour low power thing is the same as when they are put in the case.

I think Apple has said officially only the case will put them into full sleep mode.

So yeah someone needs to do some good tests! All these YouTube reviews are the same and totally miss the usability aspect of the reviews.

 

[mcaswell]

I own a pair and try as many combinations as I can think of, I can not reproduce this.. i.e I can not manually turn it off by any reasonable combination of button pushing.

Yeah, same here – that person must have just been trolling. Not sure why people sometimes get joy out of spreading knowingly false information.

 

[mcaswell]

I think Apple has said officially only the case will put them into full sleep mode.

So what's the 2 hour thing that all the early reviewers mentioned? I don't see anything on Apple's site about it... on the battery page about the APM, it just says "keep them in the Smart Case to put them into an ultra-low power mode to preserve battery charge" and does not mention the 2 hour thing.

Maybe there was some confusion between the engineering team and the marketing people, where a 2 hour idle low-power mode was planned, but never actually implemented, yet the marketing people didn't realize this and told early reviewers that it did shut off after 2 hours.

 

[varun14]

I've been using mine and the lack of a power button is the single biggest issue with these headphones. But I am hopeful that all of the criticism that Apple have received, means that they will push new software that converts the crown/noise cancel button into a power button too. I like wearing my headphones around my neck.

 

[MecPro]

So what's the 2 hour thing that all the early reviewers mentioned? I don't see anything on Apple's site about it... on the battery page about the APM, it just says "keep them in the Smart Case to put them into an ultra-low power mode to preserve battery charge" and does not mention the 2 hour thing.

Maybe there was some confusion between the engineering team and the marketing people, where a 2 hour idle low-power mode was planned, but never actually implemented, yet the marketing people didn't realize this and told early reviewers that it did shut off after 2 hours.

I think it was MKHBD was the person who said it first and repeated it in his main video where he said: outside of the case, nothing playing = 2 hour drain.

 

[G5isAlive]

So what's the 2 hour thing that all the early reviewers mentioned? I don't see anything on Apple's site about it... on the battery page about the APM, it just says "keep them in the Smart Case to put them into an ultra-low power mode to preserve battery charge" and does not mention the 2 hour thing.

Maybe there was some confusion between the engineering team and the marketing people, where a 2 hour idle low-power mode was planned, but never actually implemented, yet the marketing people didn't realize this and told early reviewers that it did shut off after 2 hours.

Yeah, I am trying to get to the bottom of that too.. I think with quick YouTube reviews someone misconstrues something and says it, then others pick up on it and repeat it, and then it gets repeated here in MR as gospel. it doesn't make sense to me that they would sit for 2 hours in some sort of hyper alert mode that drains a lot of power. why two hours? why not 5 minutes which seems more reasonable. Shrugs.

I am going to try to find the time today to do more testing over more discrete time intervals but eh, my day job interferes and that kind of study means I have to take the darn things off. I am enjoying them too much lol.

 

[G5isAlive]

As long as you enjoy them, that’s the key.

I turn my Bose NC-700 off all the time just out of habit and nature and knowing if I don’t touch them for a few days they’ll still have the same battery. It’s quick and not really a hassle.

I’ll keep my eye on the subject as I still want to buy them, as I plan to go for a short European trip in February and have 4 hour train ride to Amsterdam so I hope to have them for then.

Agreed. Enjoying is the key.

And you are right, unlike my iPhone, I do power down my MX4 (and previous ANC generations over 20 years) because I know it will sit a while between flights and I never use it otherwise. Which could mean sometimes that I would have to re-familiarize myself with all those darn buttons and how to re-pair the bluetooth etc. Which often meant frantically googling from my iPhone while on the tarmac. From this consideration I appreciate Apple's minimalist approach lol.

Also different from how I use the Max, is that , unlike previous ANC headphones, it DOES have utility to me because of the amazing stuff Apple does with Spatial Audio, the good work it does with calls, and overall improvement of sound. Meaning, it is likely I will use it enough that I not worry about keeping it charged as part of my routine.

All this ruminating is really only relevant if I absolutely refuses to use the minimal case Apple provides. And its likely I will use it soooo.... if I were you I would go ahead and get it for your trip! lol.

btw, why aren't you flying directly into Schihpol? I did once take a train from Bonn to Amsterdam though, it was amazing. so enjoy.

oh. and btw, in my attempt to randomly push buttons to figure out how to turn it off manually I did manage to really confuse it and reset it. I am still untangling from that. i.e. kids dont try this from home!

 

[Rayansb]

This may or may not be accurate. Did they actually test it?

This is the test I have done so far. I have had these lest than 24 hours so... need to do a lot more obviously but.

1) I used them straight for over 4 hours. 15% battery drain. or 1% per 16 minutes.
2) Then I took them off and put them down on the table for 15 hours straight. 8% battery drain. or 1 % per 100 minutes.

Now maybe this 8% drain was the first two hours only and THEN it went to 0% drain for the next 13 hours. If so, I can live with that, assuming I can not bring myself to use the case. That means if I dont want to use them for a month, no problem. But I doubt this is the case. why? Speakers are mechanical devices. It takes power to move the speaker membrane to push air to make sound. So it makes no sense the drain rate on or off is the same regardless if on the head and in use, or sitting quiet on a table. my guess is there is a reduction in power use when off the head for 2 hours, and then a further slower reduction after that as bluetooth powered down (when not in case)

I don't know there's conflicting information out there. The Verge in their review said the drain overnight is minimal. If that is the case I'm back in the game!

I don't think it's out of the question for you to return something to Apple that has been opened/tried... you don't need a local Apple store. But, if the lack of a power button is an absolute deal-killer, then it doesn't make sense to order one when you are certain you'd be returning it.

But yeah, it's glaringly stupid omission... the headphones are good enough that I'm willing to live with it, but at the same time I'm hoping that they add a power-off option via firmware.

it is indeed stupid. They're trying too hard to be fancy! Some new reviews are saying the drain isn't significant. That is encouraging news!

 

[mcaswell]

I don't know there's conflicting information out there. The Verge in their review said the drain overnight is minimal. If that is the case I'm back in the game!

it is indeed stupid. They're trying too hard to be fancy! Some new reviews are saying the drain isn't significant. That is encouraging news!

Mine drained about 6% in 12 hours... no, not a huge amount, but significant over the course of several days or a week. This thing needs a power-off option. I still love my APM, but this is a just plain silly omission (though one that can be easily remedied via a firmware update).

 

[mcaswell]

Is anyone seeing any indication of something special occurring after 2 hours of being idle? Once again, when I opened my computer this morning, the APM is still showing up in the menu bar and is listed as "connected" in Bluetooth settings. Maybe it's going into a slightly lower-power state after 2 hours, but it's definitely not doing the equivalent of what happens when it's placed in the bra.

 

[deuxani]

Is anyone seeing any indication of something special occurring after 2 hours of being idle? Once again, when I opened my computer this morning, the APM is still showing up in the menu bar and is listed as "connected" in Bluetooth settings. Maybe it's going into a slightly lower-power state after 2 hours, but it's definitely not doing the equivalent of what happens when it's placed in the bra.

Could you check before you put it in the bra how much power it has.... leave it in the bra over night and the next morning take it out to see how much percentage it lost in say 10 or 12 hours or so?

 

[MecPro]

Agreed. Enjoying is the key.

And you are right, unlike my iPhone, I do power down my MX4 (and previous ANC generations over 20 years) because I know it will sit a while between flights and I never use it otherwise. Which could mean sometimes that I would have to re-familiarize myself with all those darn buttons and how to re-pair the bluetooth etc. Which often meant frantically googling from my iPhone while on the tarmac. From this consideration I appreciate Apple's minimalist approach lol.

Also different from how I use the Max, is that , unlike previous ANC headphones, it DOES have utility to me because of the amazing stuff Apple does with Spatial Audio, the good work it does with calls, and overall improvement of sound. Meaning, it is likely I will use it enough that I not worry about keeping it charged as part of my routine.

All this ruminating is really only relevant if I absolutely refuses to use the minimal case Apple provides. And its likely I will use it soooo.... if I were you I would go ahead and get it for your trip! lol.

btw, why aren't you flying directly into Schihpol? I did once take a train from Bonn to Amsterdam though, it was amazing. so enjoy.

oh. and btw, in my attempt to randomly push buttons to figure out how to turn it off manually I did manage to really confuse it and reset it. I am still untangling from that. i.e. kids dont try this from home!

Yeah I watched a few more reviews that made me jump to the "buy" queue!

Why am I not flying? Well its easier for me to come by train as I live near St Pancras station, so its about 5 hours door to door for me and cheaper via Eurostar!

 

[mcaswell]

Could you check before you put it in the bra how much power it has.... leave it in the bra over night and the next morning take it out to see how much percentage it lost in say 10 or 12 hours or so?

Yeah, I suppose I could, just need to get motivated to pull that hideous thing out of the box!

 

[mcaswell]

ICYMI, a lot more detailed info in this article:

Apple Clarifies Power-Saving Modes of AirPods Max When Not in Use

When Apple unveiled AirPods Max last week, it revealed that they don't come with an on/off power button, but instead enter an "ultralow"...

www.macrumors.com