Apple in December introduced the AirPods Max, its over-ear Apple-branded headphones that join the AirPods and AirPods Pro. Since launch, a growing number of MacRumors readers who purchased the AirPods Max have been complaining of battery drain that seems excessive.
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Complaints range from high battery drain while the headphones are in use to significant battery loss when the headphones are meant to be idle. MacRumors reader VL_424 explains:
Many of the complaints have suggested that the AirPods Max are not properly going into a low power mode, and with no power button, there's no way to force them to conserve battery. When the AirPods Max first launched, there was significant confusion over how low power modes worked when the AirPods Max are in and out of the Smart Case that's included with the headphones.
Apple in a support document clarified that the AirPods Max are designed to enter into a "low power mode" after five minutes of being left stationary (not placed in a case). If untouched, the AirPods Max are meant to stay in low power mode for three days, after which the headphones go into an "ultralow" power state that cuts off Bluetooth and Find My.
When placed into the Smart Case, AirPods Max are designed to go into low power mode immediately rather than waiting for five minutes, and after 18 hours, go into the aforementioned ultralow power state.
Given Apple's description, battery drain should be minimized when the AirPods Max are not in use both in and out of the case, but there may be an issue with low power mode given the battery problems that some users are experiencing.
Many MacRumors readers are seeing high levels of battery drain overnight, sometimes in double digit percentages, but most are seeing approximately 10 to 12 percent battery drain per day when the headphones are not in use. There have also been reports from some users who saw their headphones drain completely over the course of the day. From MacRumors reader DaSal:
Some users believe that the issue may be related to the AirPods Max not disconnecting from devices when placed in the case or when entering low power mode. From MacRumors reader Broken Hope:
With no power off option it seems that the AirPods Max are going to drain somewhat overnight even in low power mode, but given the number of reports about excessive battery drain, it seems that there could be a software bug that Apple will need to address in the future.
Like AirPods and AirPods Pro, Apple is able to push over-the-air firmware updates for AirPods Max, but to date, there have been no new firmware releases.
Article Link: Some AirPods Max Owners Seeing Excessive Battery Drain
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