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Ill_Dottore

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 13, 2020
2
0
An on and off problem with my PowerBeats Pro ha recently gotten worse. When I take them out to wear, the left unit won’t sync, and it turns out it has run down its battery in the case: R is at 100% but L is at 0%. If I re-seat it and watch it like a hawk it will charge enough for me to use, but I’m guessing there’s a bad connection with the case or something because this often happens when I go to use them (several times a week when running). Is this a known issue and are there any fixes? I love these headphones for running and this is just so annoying.
 

7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,399
1,551
Six Rivers, CA
It’s a known issue. Been there, sent them back to Apple twice. First time, they seemingly just ran a diagnostic. Second time, they replaced the earbuds. I’m curious if it’s just a hardware issue, i.e. sporadic crappy components kneecapping an otherwise good product. Alternatively I also wonder if it’s user related. I wore mine almost exclusively to exercise and I sweat HARD. I wonder if the sweat did them in. First three months with them were great. Downhill after that.
 
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Ill_Dottore

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 13, 2020
2
0
It’s a known issue. Been there, sent them back to Apple twice. First time, they seemingly just ran a diagnostic. Second time, they replaced the earbuds. I’m curious if it’s just a hardware issue, i.e. sporadic crappy components kneecapping an otherwise good product. Alternatively I also wonder if it’s user related. I wore mine almost exclusively to exercise and I sweat HARD. I wonder if the sweat did them in. First three months with them were great. Downhill after that.
Oh huh I sweat a ton too. How disappointing. They’re well over a year old so I suppose I have no recourse at this point. But my spouse is getting some for Christmas and I’ll make sure we take them in at the first sign of trouble.
 

7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,399
1,551
Six Rivers, CA
If you bought the PBP with a credit card that offers extended warranties on electronic purchased with it, you could make a claim. You’d need the receipt as well.
 

mikegoldnj

macrumors 6502
Apr 27, 2005
391
301
Just started experiencing the same thing but with the right side unit. Also noticed today that the iPhone Bluetooth was still connected to the Powerbeats while they were in the closed case. A low battery warning popped up on the phone.
 
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7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,399
1,551
Six Rivers, CA
It’s sooo annoying. I really love them for exercise but yet again I’ve experienced the right one being dead despite being firmly seated in the case. So glad I can file a claim with my credit card company. I expect more from Apple than this. I’ve had $50 earbuds that were less trouble than these.
 

Runs For Fun

macrumors 65816
Nov 6, 2017
1,138
2,601
I've also experienced this problem. I've found that it's usually because they are not seated properly on the contacts in the case. Or when you close the case they get dislodged from the contacts. Sometimes adjusting the ear loops can make them fit better in the case. But I've noticed they seem to get more touchy over time. It really seems to be just bad design unfortunately.
 

7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,399
1,551
Six Rivers, CA
Yeah I’m pretty determined when I put them back in the case to make sure they contact the terminals. Listen and feel for the click, look for the light to change from white to red, double check again. What I need to do, but won’t, is check on them periodically like a petulant teenager to make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing when in the case, charging. Agreed on it’s just a bad design.
 

Runs For Fun

macrumors 65816
Nov 6, 2017
1,138
2,601
Yeah I’m pretty determined when I put them back in the case to make sure they contact the terminals. Listen and feel for the click, look for the light to change from white to red, double check again. What I need to do, but won’t, is check on them periodically like a petulant teenager to make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing when in the case, charging. Agreed on it’s just a bad design.
Yeah it’s definitely super annoying when they just randomly decide to connect while they’re still in the case. Ugh!
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
I've also experienced this problem. I've found that it's usually because they are not seated properly on the contacts in the case. Or when you close the case they get dislodged from the contacts. Sometimes adjusting the ear loops can make them fit better in the case. But I've noticed they seem to get more touchy over time. It really seems to be just bad design unfortunately.
Yeah, this has been a known issue since release. No matter how careful I am to ensure a good contact and they're showing charging, its still common for me to pick them up to go for a run only to find one of them totally dead.
 

robjulo

Suspended
Jul 16, 2010
1,623
3,159
I had numerous problems including those described above. Without me asking, the Apple store rep suggested swapping them for APP as he’d seen so many similar problems. Took him up on it and never looked back.
 

Runs For Fun

macrumors 65816
Nov 6, 2017
1,138
2,601
I had numerous problems including those described above. Without me asking, the Apple store rep suggested swapping them for APP as he’d seen so many similar problems. Took him up on it and never looked back.
I have a pair of APP and they fit way better than regular AirPods, but there’s no way they will stay in my ears when I’m exercising. I absolutely need something that has an ear hook for working out.
 

robjulo

Suspended
Jul 16, 2010
1,623
3,159
I have a pair of APP and they fit way better than regular AirPods, but there’s no way they will stay in my ears when I’m exercising. I absolutely need something that has an ear hook for working out.

I get it. Fortunately mine do stay in, but I suspect you are an avid runner and that probably makes a lot of difference in your needs. I liked the PBB, the quality just wasn’t what I hoped for. I think the fourth pair was the one they switched me to APP. It wasn’t like I was whining about small things, the issues were making them unusable.
 

7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,399
1,551
Six Rivers, CA
Not to beat a dead horse but here are some screen shots of the state I found my PBP today. I haven’t used them in over 2 days. Both earbuds were firmly seated on the contacts. The contacts are clean. Even so the right side doesn’t show it’s charging despite being in the case and the case being plugged into power. It’s just a mess.
 

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ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
Not to beat a dead horse but here are some screen shots of the state I found my PBP today. I haven’t used them in over 2 days. Both earbuds were firmly seated on the contacts. The contacts are clean. Even so the right side doesn’t show it’s charging despite being in the case and the case being plugged into power. It’s just a mess.
I've been injured so haven't been using these as much, but have been slowly getting back in to things these last few weeks. And each and every day I have an issue with these not being charged.

No matter how careful I am about re-seating them in the case, I'll come back to find one of them (its always just one of them) to be out of charge. And when using airplay in the house, the tell-tale sign that one isn't seated right is that I'll have the option to put audio to one of them - so its sitting active in the case just running the battery down.

Has anybody had luck with Apple replacing these out of warranty or is a credit card company the only recourse? And presumably the flaw still exists on these manufactured recently, there's not been any tweaks to resolve this I take it?
 
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