How Long Do AirPods and AirPods Pro Last?

 Are you hearing the low battery warning on your AirPods more frequently than you used to? It's quite possible that your wireless Apple headphones reaching their end of life. This article explains why – and what you can do about it.

What is the Battery Life of AirPods and AirPods Pro?

Apple officially claims that its first-generation AirPods offer up to five hours of listening time and up to two hours of one-charge talk time, while second-generation AirPods provide up to an additional hour of talk time.

AirPods Pro has the same battery life as AirPods with up to five hours of listening time, but listening time is reduced to four and a half hours in Active Noise Cancellation mode and talk time is limited to up to three and a half hours. For all versions, the Charging Cases give up to 24 hours of additional listening time or over 18 extra hours of talk time.

Of course, the word 'up to is the main qualifier Apple prefers to use here, and it is not only to account for those usage situations that can save battery life faster (see below). It's also because you may fail to get anywhere near the specified battery life without recharging them much more frequently than you used to if you have owned AirPods for a while and you use them almost every day.

So How Long Do AirPods Actually Last?

The capacity of their batteries to hold a shift is the limiting factor in the lifetime of AirPods or AirPods Pro earbuds. You'll find over time that AirPods won't last for up to five hours anymore. Over several months of use, battery life per charge can fall dramatically. How long this takes depends on how extensively you use your AirPods, but it seems like the initial AirPods last about 2 years from the anecdotes on our forums until you start seeing a significant drop in battery function and  AirPods Pro are unlikely to last much longer.

Why Do AirPods Have Such a Short Lifespan?

It is no secret that batteries deteriorate over time, and Apple's AirPods are no different, but their small size makes them especially vulnerable to the physical harm that occurs over the normal lifetime of each lithium ion battery.

Remember that a speck of damage might be insignificant in an iPhone battery, but because of its comparatively small volume in contrast, the same speck in an AirPod battery would be much more important.

How to Maximize AirPods Battery Life

Keep Them Cased: For example, the AirPods case itself holds 24 hours of extra charge, so if you use your AirPods twice daily on a long commute, it can keep you going. Only make sure that when they're not in use, you keep your AirPods in their case, and remember to attach the case to a power outlet every few days.

Don't Fiddle: If you don't want to use AirPods, try to stop messing with the case. Sure, it can be strangely rewarding to constantly flip the lid open and closed, but you activate the W1 Bluetooth chip and save the battery every time you do so.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures: In general, extreme heat or cold can cause long-term damage to the batteries, preventing them from being used whenever possible in inhospitable environmental conditions. Even, when you're not using them, try to keep your AirPods out of direct sunlight.

Disable Smart Features: Turn them off if you don't use smart features on AirPods. Automatic Ear Detection, for example allows audio routed from a connected device to switch to the AirPods seamlessly the moment you put it in your ears. The feature is enabled by default, but once you have connected AirPods to an iPhone or iPad, you can manually disable it if you want to. Only remember that you'll need to manually play/pause audio routing to the AirPods once you do that.

Disable Noise Functions: If you own AirPods Pro, consider disabling the Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes, as these features reduce battery life significantly. You can control these functions via your connected iOS device or by using the default press-and-hold gesture on the AirPod stems themselves.

Turn it down: Eventually, try turning down the amount of audio you play on your AirPods. Doing so could offer little battery life savings, but in the long run it may also save your hearing.

How to Extend the Battery Life of Depleted AirPods

If your AirPods already have a shorter battery life and you want to increase the listening or talking time of your AirPods, here's a short-term fix: consider using one AirPod instead of wearing both AirPods at once, while the other one charges inside the charging case, and turn between them when the one you're using begins to run out of power.

When only one is worn, AirPods detect and automatically convert stereo audio channels to mono, so you can still experience the complete track recording in one ear. When you put one in again, AirPods often pause when you take one out, reconnect, and resume playback, providing a smooth listening experience.

How to Use AirPods Quick Charge Effectively

To their credit, both AirPods and AirPods 2 models charge very quickly—by putting them in their case for just 15 minutes, you will get two hours of listening time. But if they run out of juice on an ongoing basis, this gets frustrating easily.

Using AirPods to take and make loads of calls, as described above will result in a long-term battery capacity mismatch between the two earpieces. Try flipping the designated active AirPod microphone into settings regularly to minimise this. Better still, instead of two, use only one AirPod, and turn between the left and the right one every so often.

Should I Upgrade if my AirPods are Dying?

Consider this before you do anything If your AirPods' battery life is significantly lower than advertised, they may be genuinely defective. To get them checked out, contact Apple support and organise a Genius appointment. You can get them serviced (see below) if you think your AirPods are just getting old, or you could always buy a new pair, especially if you own first-generation AirPods.

In March 2019, Apple launched second-generation AirPods ($199) that offer several new features over the original models, including the ability to wirelessly charge using third-party charging pads. However it's unlikely that the lifespan of the batteries in AirPods 2 are any better than the first generation, so take this into account before upgrading.

In March 2019, Apple also released a standalone Wireless Charging Case ($79) that can be purchased separately for use with first-gen AirPods. So if it's your charging case that's no longer holding a good charge – and you already own a charging mat or two to charge your iPhone – then it's worth buying a Wireless Charging Case as a substitute (don't worry – it can also be charged via cable).

Apple launched AirPods Pro ($249) in October 2019, featuring an all-new design with an AirPods-style shape and silicone ear tips to support active technology for noise cancellation. Again, the lifespan of the AirPods Pro batteries is unlikely to be better than the first or second generation AirPods, so take this into account before upgrading.

How to Get Your AirPods or AirPods Pro Serviced

If you had no luck eking out your exhausted AirPods for a little more life, then it may be time to consider having them serviced by Apple. Apple provides a $29 AppleCare+ package that is specifically tailored for AirPods-like headphones. If your AirPod or Charging Case battery retains less than 80 percent of its original capacity, AppleCare+ extends the AirPods' warranty to two years from the date of purchase and provides replacement coverage.

If you have not purchased AppleCare+ within 60 days of purchasing your AirPods, the standard one-year warranty that is included with all Apple products may still cover them. All work will be covered for free if your AirPods need service during that one year period.

As described on its AirPods Service Pricing page, Apple charges a $49 fee per AirPod for battery service after the one-year warranty has expired. If your AirPods Charging Case loses battery power, during the one-year guarantee duration or $49 out of warranty, battery support is also free. U.S. pricing is the pricing in Apple's support document, which may vary depending on region.

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