Powerbeats Pro battery/connectivity issues - weird scenario

[vistokid]

So I'll try to be short but try to provide enough detail to you all.

I've got a pair of Ivory PBP. I only use them at the gym. They stay in my gym bag other than to wall charge.

I use an iPod Touch (6th gen) at the gym. When I start my workout I turn on the iPod Touch, when I complete my workout, I power off the iPod Touch.

When I open the PBP case and put them on for some reason one side is at 0% and the other is at 100%. It's so annoying. At first it was the left headphone, then I reset them and now it's the right side.

I took screen shots of what's happening just so I have some proof so people don't say I'm crazy. I took them in to my local Apple store (I purchased AC+ on them). Explained the scenario to the "Genius" and showed him all my screen shots. He basically said he had no idea how to service Beats products and he needs to send them in to get checked out. He said 99% of the time they'll just send a new pair. The only thing that bugs me is he said it's a minimum of a week turnaround.

Has anyone experienced such a thing? Is there a fix I can do on my own? Something is clearly causing one side to drain. I thought it must be the way I'm placing it in the charger, but that wouldn't explain why only 1 would drain completely.

I never knew how annoying it is to listen to music on only 1 ear.

 

[7thson]

This thread is discussing the same issue: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/powerbeats-pro-only-one-earphone-charging.2194636/
I haven’t experienced this but I’m experiencing connectivity difficulty with my Apple Watch. Latest trick was getting in the gym and discovering no audio on the right side. Walk back out to truck, put back in case, re-pair, nope, paired to iPhone, turn iPhone BT off, re-pair with watch and now audio is playing on both sides. Other times the volume buttons on the PBP don’t function. Seems like a firmware update is overdue.

 

[jterp7]

Damnit mine just started doing this. Left side is 0% rightt is 100%. At first i thought it was a pairing issue since this happened with my og airpods but it didnt fix anything
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I charged it for 5min only gave me 1% and that dead battery sound when i took it out of the case and put it in my ear

 

[7thson]

Hopefully a firmware update will fix these issues. At this time, 2C48 is the current version.

 

[ATC]

I had the same charge discrepancy issue as the OP and, at least in my case, someone in another thread told me what the issue could be (as they experienced the same) and sure enough, it was exactly that and now it's fixed.

My right PBP earpiece would remain uncharged or would discharge while the left one was always 100% after both having been in the charging case. I contacted Apple, did numerous resets, re-pairs etc...issue would always come back. Firmware was on the latest version.

It turned out that the right earpiece's charging connectors would not always make contact or keep it while in the case. It was careless placement on my part. The giveaway was I would sometime notice the right earpiece was connected via BT to my iPhone while it was in the case - I would notice the charge status of the right earpiece in the battery widget in iOS notification centre.

So now when I put them in the case, I push each one firmly into the case and make sure the light comes on after each earpiece is placed. Ever since I started doing that, over two weeks ago, they've both been at 100% charge.

 

[EdMan]

I'm having the same problem with mine and I just took them in last week to the genius who in turn sent them out. I have already had an issue with my right bud back in Dec when it stopped working. Now it's my left bud that's dead every time I go to use them. I also only use them in the gym. One thing I noticed is that they seemed to be not disconnecting from the phone when I put them back in the case. Maybe the left bud is for some reason staying connected and running down which is a problem. Don't know if its a software glitch or a problem with the case.

 

[vistokid]

I'm having the same problem with mine and I just took them in last week to the genius who in turn sent them out. I have already had an issue with my right bud back in Dec when it stopped working. Now it's my left bud that's dead every time I go to use them. I also only use them in the gym. One thing I noticed is that they seemed to be not disconnecting from the phone when I put them back in the case. Maybe the left bud is for some reason staying connected and running down which is a problem. Don't know if its a software glitch or a problem with the case.

Interesting stuff here.

That's why I said my I use my iPod Touch at the gym and power it on/off when using it. I have my phone in my locker and I'm thinking it somehow connects randomly when I'm leaving the gym. The confusing part is why only one bud? It happened again yesterday afternoon. So I ended up bringing my case in to gym. Fast fueled for get to 10% and that got me through the hour. It's really annoying for such an expensive piece of tech. I'm going to have to send them in for sure. Just a pain to be without them for a week (or more).

As for the connectors, I'm literally pushing my buds in them using force now so I know it's not how I place them in the case. Maybe they get dislodged while in my bag but that doesn't explain how the batt life would be 0%. It's draining somehow. That's the only logical solution.

Thanks for all the responses guys. It sucks that this doesn't seem like an isolated issue.

 

[ATC]

...The confusing part is why only bud?

My theory, and it is just a theory, is that in my case at least, it's always one bud because somehow the charge contact is either lost or they never made contact when I put it into the case. I think they also may dislodge with movement, just enough to again break the charging connection. And once there is no charge contact, they continuously try to connect to the iPhone which is what's draining the battery.

The case charging contact placement seems a little finicky, it's a very fine line between proper contact and no contact. I've placed them in before where I was sure they're in securely and they even click in place, but the light never came on, so again they behave as though they're outside the case and connect to my phone. For all I know this may well be a bad case design.

 

[vistokid]

My theory, and it is just a theory, is that in my case at least, it's always one bud because somehow the charge contact is either lost or they never made contact when I put it into the case. I think they also may dislodge with movement, just enough to again break the charging connection. And once there is no charge contact, they continuously try to connect to the iPhone which is what's draining the battery.

The case charging contact placement seems a little finicky, it's a very fine line between proper contact and no contact. I've placed them in before where I was sure they're in securely and they even click in place, but the light never came on, so again they behave as though they're outside the case and connect to my phone. For all I know this may well be a bad case design.

That makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure what the solution is at this point. I might as well send them in and hope I get one with a better case.

 

[EdMan]

Well Apple notified me yesterday that they were sending my buds back and they could not verify a problem. I'm thinking it was written up wrong as the genius stated that one bud was not charging. The real problem is the bud not disconnecting and running down. I realized it also when one day my phone would not connect to my car. It was due to it being connected to the PB's and I didn't know it. So I'm going to just have to be diligent about making sure they disconnect after use and putting them in the case. I'm not trying to keep going back on forth with Apple.

 

[vistokid]

Well Apple notified me yesterday that they were sending my buds back and they could not verify a problem. I'm thinking it was written up wrong as the genius stated that one bud was not charging. The real problem is the bud not disconnecting and running down. I realized it also when one day my phone would not connect to my car. It was due to it being connected to the PB's and I didn't know it. So I'm going to just have to be diligent about making sure they disconnect after use and putting them in the case. I'm not trying to keep going back on forth with Apple.

Wow. I'm surprised they weren't replaced. Actually maybe I'm not. I feel Apple has been tightening their policy on warranties for a while now. I guess that's what happens when everyone jumps onboard right?

I took several screenshots of my issue just in case. Looks like I might need them.

 

[vistokid]

Update: Called Apple, spoke to an advisor. They’re expediting a pair to me and I’ll send my other ones back.

Had to put a hold on my credit card.