Airpods on the way out

[Lambo The Jambo]

Hey folks,

My 23 month AirPods are really beginning to give up the ghost. Probably shouldn't be a massive surprise to me as I have used them every day for the last 23 months, usually for at least 2-3 hours.

The AirPods last for around 1-1.5 hours on a charge and the case now has to be charged every day, rather annoyingly, if I answer a call the AirPods disconnect and have to be recharged.

Has anyone else with similar ages Airpods noticed serious degradation? Does anyone know if this can be cured by for example getting a new charging case or is it time to replace the Airpods?

Thought most appreciated.

Cheers,

Lambo.

 

[yegon]

Same as you OP. Got mine just before Xmas two years ago, they’re showing their age now. Unfortunately, it’s just natural degradation of battery health I think.

Losing a few % battery capacity on an iPad/iPhone makes much less noticeable difference, but the AirPods are minuscule to start off with, so every % lost is significant.

My left AirPod is about 10% worse than my right, because I’ve tended to use that one the most.

New case wouldn’t really solve it I don’t think. Probably have to charge it a little less often, but that wouldn’t resolve the battery capacity loss of the AirPods themselves.

 

[Lambo The Jambo]

Same as you OP. Got mine just before Xmas two years ago, they’re showing their age now. Unfortunately, it’s just natural degradation of battery health I think.

Losing a few % battery capacity on an iPad/iPhone makes much less noticeable difference, but the AirPods are minuscule to start off with, so every % lost is significant.

My left AirPod is about 10% worse than my right, because I’ve tended to use that one the most.

New case wouldn’t really solve it I don’t think. Probably have to charge it a little less often, but that wouldn’t resolve the battery capacity loss of the AirPods themselves.

Thanks for your reply. I too use the left airpod more often than the right. Seems like I just need to buy a new set, hopefully once they are updated. Such a pain that they continually cut out on calls now though.

 

[Sean006]

yes mine too are showing their age but the way i look at it :
i got them on launch day so a little over 2yrs - actually pretty good if you think about how small these batteries are and i use them daily at work and right after work at the gym...

i have no complaints just waiting on the update for them.

 

[yegon]

Fortunately, the connection on mine is still reliable. Plus, I never actually run out of battery during the periods I use them. It’s merely that I have to charge the case a lot more frequently these days.

If “Hey Siri” and wireless charging are the only additions to the new version I’ll likely skip it. It’s the complete absence of noise isolation and/or cancellation that limits there use for me, would love it if they were improved in this regard.

 

[Ralfi]

Mine needed to be replaced after 20 months as music & especially calls weren’t lasting too long.

Try Apple Support & then take them in store...maybe you’ll get lucky & they’ll exchange them for nothing. Having contacted Apple Support first may help your cause...

 

[Lambo The Jambo]

Thanks, will give that a shot!

 

[Ralfi]

Thanks, will give that a shot!

& I notice you're not in the US, which is good in your case...

Hopefully Scotland has a similar Consumer Law to Australia whereby you have an extra years warranty applied to items such as Airpods - I had no issue exchanging them due to this, but I also mentioned that it was recommended I bring them into an Apple Store by Apple Support.

... Apple Support suggested an overnight test to prove the batteries were depleted & after the test came back with results proving this - in their eyes - (although I don't think it proved anything) then it was suggested I visit an Apple Store.

 

[str0ppy]

& I notice you're not in the US, which is good in your case...

Hopefully Scotland has a similar Consumer Law to Australia whereby you have an extra years warranty applied to items such as Airpods - I had no issue exchanging them due to this, but I also mentioned that it was recommended I bring them into an Apple Store by Apple Support.

... Apple Support suggested an overnight test to prove the batteries were depleted & after the test came back with results proving this - in their eyes - (although I don't think it proved anything) then it was suggested I visit an Apple Store.

If you bought the product from another shop, do you think you would be able to return them to the Apple Store to potentially exchange under the 2 year consumer law? Rather than the original place of purchase I mean.

 

[Ralfi]

If you bought the product from another shop, do you think you would be able to return them to the Apple Store to potentially exchange under the 2 year consumer law? Rather than the original place of purchase I mean.

I bought mine from another store.

It just adds a few more steps for the Apple staff to process things, but they can still do it.

 

[eddjedi]

My 19 year old Sennheiser HD25's still work great. Some things are just better wired.

 

[str0ppy]

I bought mine from another store.

It just adds a few more steps for the Apple staff to process things, but they can still do it.

Thanks. Just found a good deal with O2 Priority, but didn't want to pull the trigger if it's going to be a hassle to take them back in the second year.

 

[Lambo The Jambo]

& I notice you're not in the US, which is good in your case...

Hopefully Scotland has a similar Consumer Law to Australia whereby you have an extra years warranty applied to items such as Airpods - I had no issue exchanging them due to this, but I also mentioned that it was recommended I bring them into an Apple Store by Apple Support.

... Apple Support suggested an overnight test to prove the batteries were depleted & after the test came back with results proving this - in their eyes - (although I don't think it proved anything) then it was suggested I visit an Apple Store.

So an update. I booked an appointment and took the AirPods into my local apple store. The guy helping me stated that he had never had a pair of AirPods with battery issues so went behind the scenes to speak to a manager. I was waiting for around 20 minutes wondering what was going on. When the chap returned he came in hand with replacement AirPods and case. Apparently he spent the 20 minutes with my AirPods paired to his phone to replicate the battery drain issue which he confirmed. As my AirPods were within the 2 year UK consumer law legislation they replaced them without question. Amazing given that the AirPods were 23 months old and have been so heavily used by me. Was a very happy apple customer.

 

[Alhagar]

What I have noticed, similar to the iPhone 6 (or 6s; I can’t remember) is that even when the temperature is slightly chilly (below 50) the battery drains very quickly. They often crap out during my 30 minute bike ride to work, even if fully charged.

 

[zhenya]

Yep, something that’s gone ignored in the debate about going wireless. Your $150 headphones now last 2 years rather than 10+...

 

[Lambo The Jambo]

What I have noticed, similar to the iPhone 6 (or 6s; I can’t remember) is that even when the temperature is slightly chilly (below 50) the battery drains very quickly. They often crap out during my 30 minute bike ride to work, even if fully charged.

Yup sounds similar to mine before they were replaced.
[doublepost=1543668167][/doublepost]

Yep, something that’s gone ignored in the debate about going wireless. Your $150 headphones now last 2 years rather than 10+...

Not like Apple to get into a product line that has built in obsolescence. Seriously though, even good wired headphones would begin to seriously degraded after 2-3 year and need replaced.

 

[DarthVader!]

Yep, something that’s gone ignored in the debate about going wireless. Your $150 headphones now last 2 years rather than 10+...

This was a major reason as to why I opted to avoid them. Similar logic related to the apple watch, how long are you expected use it before they needed replacement.

My rather inexpensive wired earbuds that I got at an airport, have lasted me several years. to each his own, but its not my desire to buy and need to re-buy the same product every few years.

 

[zhenya]

Yup sounds similar to mine before they were replaced.
[doublepost=1543668167][/doublepost]

Not like Apple to get into a product line that has built in obsolescence. Seriously though, even good wired headphones would begin to seriously degraded after 2-3 year and need replaced.

Good wired headphones easily last 10 years. I have a couple of pairs that are 15 years old, and one of my very best pairs is over 20 years old.

 

[Ralfi]

So an update. I booked an appointment and took the AirPods into my local apple store. The guy helping me stated that he had never had a pair of AirPods with battery issues so went behind the scenes to speak to a manager. I was waiting for around 20 minutes wondering what was going on. When the chap returned he came in hand with replacement AirPods and case. Apparently he spent the 20 minutes with my AirPods paired to his phone to replicate the battery drain issue which he confirmed. As my AirPods were within the 2 year UK consumer law legislation they replaced them without question. Amazing given that the AirPods were 23 months old and have been so heavily used by me. Was a very happy apple customer.

Brilliant. Glad it worked out. Now you have a new set to get you by for another ~20 months.

Yep, something that’s gone ignored in the debate about going wireless. Your $150 headphones now last 2 years rather than 10+...

I’m sure this will improve with every generation of Bluetooth buds. Bluetooth 5.0 should help things along too.

 

[DarthVader!]

I’m sure this will improve with every generation of Bluetooth buds. Bluetooth 5.0 should help things along too.

Is in apples best interest to sell you airpods every few years instead of every 10

 

[marina2042]

Mine seem to hold a charge fairly well but they are half as loud as they used to be (I can barely hear the left one ). Mine are about 23 months old.

I ended up getting the sennheiser momentum true wireless. They have amazing sound but don’t last as long (they are also a bit heavier than the AirPods so still getting used to them).

 

[Lambo The Jambo]

Mine seem to hold a charge fairly well but they are half as loud as they used to be (I can barely hear the left one ). Mine are about 23 months old.

I ended up getting the sennheiser momentum true wireless. They have amazing sound but don’t last as long (they are also a bit heavier than the AirPods so still getting used to them).

I would definitely take your AirPods into the apple store to enquire about them.