Some AirPods Users Facing Battery Drain Issues With Charging Case

[redshovel]

I'm also affected by case battery drain issues.... the question is, is this something that can (and will) be fixed with a firmware update or is it worth returning the units and getting a new pair?

Personally I think it's hardware/manufacturer related. Not all AirPods are displaying the same behaviour.
Clearly these were rushed out the door. The build quality of the pods I have, in terms of joins and visible glueing, aren't really acceptable for a premium product either.

 

[tomaustin44]

Personally I think it's hardware/manufacturer related. Not all AirPods are displaying the same behaviour.
Clearly these were rushed out the door. The build quality of the pods I have, in terms of joins and visible glueing, aren't really acceptable for a premium product either.

I agree the joins are very rough. I'm going to keep an eye out for my local UK store stock and return this set if anything becomes available.

 

[tob!]

Personally I think it's hardware/manufacturer related. Not all AirPods are displaying the same behaviour.
Clearly these were rushed out the door. The build quality of the pods I have, in terms of joins and visible glueing, aren't really acceptable for a premium product either.

yes, they clearly lowered quality control standards to get more of them out of the door. The glueing on mine is ridiculous as well.

 

[GalaDaliGirl]

This recall is going to be embarrassing for Tim Cook's personally poor engineering of the AirPods. Jobs would have waited.

 

[dilbert99]

Yea bc they had SUCH a bad year. Shut it.

Wow, such a pleasant guy. Is that how you were brought up?
[doublepost=1483011122][/doublepost]

Not likely. Remember a few dozen trollers on MR is an infinitesimally small percentage of the hundreds of millions of people around the world who purchase Apple products each year. Apple products continue to have the highest owner satisfaction and are the envy of the tech world.

In the year in review for 2016, Apple will have achieved record numbers of switchers from Android, record quarter for Apple Watch sales, number one holiday product, record quarterly sales for an iPhone, record sales for the Macbook Pro, they reached #1 in the world in wireless sales, they garnered 60% of the entire worldwide market for premium headphones, they are adding a million Apple Pay users a week and in 2016 they zoomed to #1 and have 75% of the US market for contactless payments, they are adding a million Apple Music subscribers a month and zoomed past the major players to reach #2 in the world, and so on. Every tech company should be so lucky to have had such a year!

Yes they are doing great sales figures, but what goes up always comes down. Tim has pushed me away from the Mac and no doubt others too, I guess I am just not their demographic any more.
[doublepost=1483011219][/doublepost]

Not as quickly as Samsung. They can only dream of battery issues as trivial as this. I seriously doubt anyone will be banned from flying because of this. Funny, I still get asked at the airport if I own a Samsung exploding surprise packet. That's something they will never live down, yet the anti Apple trolls that camp here just go ape shizzle over trivial things like this. Go figure.
[doublepost=1482966185][/doublepost]

Nice fairytale

Yeah, Apple make it so easy...

I really wished I liked Apple at the moment, but currently spending all my $ on other companies at present.

 

[redshovel]

This recall is going to be embarrassing for Tim Cook's personally poor engineering of the AirPods. Jobs would have waited.

Perhaps too early claiming needs for recall. We don't know how many AirPods are effected. Also some defective units will be with end users who simply don't notice or care in both terms of reduced battery life and questionable build quality.

 

[truthertech]

Could've avoided this problem if only the case has a button to control the pods charging. But of course Jony Ive hate buttons so the case continuously charge the pods (used or not).

For a $160 headset, I think it's unacceptable. The pods definitely are power hogs, or the batteries are too small. Maybe a little bit of both.

Thank you for that bit of science, I think you've solved the issue, have another of whatever you're using tonight and who knows what else you might solve

 

[KennethS]

Perhaps too early claiming needs for recall. We don't know how many AirPods are effected. Also some defective units will be with end users who simply don't notice or care in both terms of reduced battery life and questionable build quality.

Mine seem to be working without any battery or other issues, and the build quality is excellent. Will be interesting to see how prevalent this issue is.

BTW, I really like my AirPods and am 100% satisfied. Having had them for only several days, I can't imagine not having them. I am already getting a lot of use out of them.

 

[stanman64]

Charging one every few days > untangling wires multiple times daily.

This. Anyone can sit back and debate AirPods through a keyboard (and that's probably what most are doing given the constrained supplies). But once you actually get some real-world usage, this is by far the best feature of AirPods (and other bluetooth headphones for that matter). So what if you have to charge them.

 

[Jsameds]

This. Anyone can sit back and debate AirPods through a keyboard (and that's probably what most are doing given the constrained supplies). But once you actually get some real-world usage, this is by far the best feature of AirPods (and other bluetooth headphones for that matter). So what if you have to charge them.

I also pointed out (can't remember what thread though, but it was before the Airpods were released) that absolutely nobody on the forum had actually used them yet. Despite that fact we had woes and complaints from all sides.

The most popular one was "They'll just fall out of your ears", which made me laugh. The only times my regular wired headphones have fallen out of my ears is when the cable has caught on something, and the one thing distinctly lacking from Earpods is the cable

 

[Jdalbo]

After the AirPods launched online and then arrived to the first set of customers earlier in December, some users have begun realizing that the charging case that comes with the headphones isn't holding Apple's advertised 24 hours of charge. In theory, the charging case should only lose noticeable amounts of charge when the AirPods are low on battery and recharging within the case, and when users flip the pack open to check battery levels or otherwise activate Bluetooth with a connected Apple device.

The unlucky set of users facing the battery issues, however, are noticing that the AirPods case drains by upwards of 40 percent in mere hours, with the AirPods at 100 percent inside and minimal Bluetooth activation.

While some feared this is just the way Apple intended the headphones and companion charging case to work, Redditor severinskulls has posted about his experience with the problem, and the replacement AirPods he got that do not have an apparent faulty charging case. In most cases, the AirPods themselves are not facing any shortened battery life issues.

AirPods Charging Case dropping nearly 50 percent overnight​

The old AirPods Charging Case: The new AirPods Charging Case: When the AirPods first came out, the initial impressions of the battery life for both the headphones and the charging case were overall positive. A handful of MacRumors forum members were fans of the speedy charge rate of the AirPods, the granular settings of the iOS battery widget, and the battery life of the charging case as well. Mentions of battery drainage issues with the AirPods case began about a week ago, around the time the first customers had been using the headphones for a few days.

In a teardown last week by iFixit, it was theorized that the Charging Case was the cause of the AirPods' delay from October to December. The root of the problem was a few empty spaces discovered within the solder joints of the case's chip. This is referred to as "voiding," which iFixit said "could be evidence of low quality standards, or a rushed product release."

The exact scope of the affected AirPods user base is unclear. Some users are speculating that the problem could be an initial charge cycle hiccup that irons itself out over time, but a few owners that have had the AirPods since day one are still posting about battery drainage issues with the charging case today. On the other hand, there are many other users who have reported normal experiences with the case and its advertised 24 hours of battery life. Apple hasn't commented on any of the reports.

Article Link: Some AirPods Users Facing Battery Drain Issues With Charging Case

[doublepost=1483025118][/doublepost]I call more "gate" bs. Every time a new product comes out also comes the D bags with BS issues. Just tested mine last night. Pods were at approx 60% and case was at 93%. Work up case @ 84% and pods @ 100%.

 

[utsava]

Well, here's another real word metric from my Apple.com bought AirPods:
Charged my case up to 100% with 100% AirPods at 3PM yesterday. 10PM down to 80%. 10AM next day at 72% and AirPods at 94%. At no time were these used other than to check the battery status. Drain seems rather excessive.

 

[RogerWilco]

Because this is such a widespread, major, unfixable problem.

They literally are unfixable. Any electronic failure? Throw them away. Bad battery? Throw them away. Old, no longer in fashion? Throw them away. This product cannot be recycled and IIRC it's counter to the big push by Apple some years ago to design products with materials and processes friendly to recycling.

 

[rysmtihaz]

For what it's worth, two pairs and both behave identical. Very slow battery drain and almost exactly 24 hours of charge. Build quality on mine are just fine. I clean them to keep the seams clean now and again but to the touch it's not noticeable.
Knock on wood...I have worn them mountain biking, running, laying on the couch and driving and have yet to have one fall out of my ear.

 

[PJWilkin]

For what it's worth, two pairs and both behave identical. Very slow battery drain and almost exactly 24 hours of charge. Build quality on mine are just fine. I clean them to keep the seams clean now and again but to the touch it's not noticeable.
Knock on wood...I have worn them mountain biking, running, laying on the couch and driving and have yet to have one fall out of my ear.

Yes, the build quality appears fine on mine, it's just the batter drain from the case.
I noticed the firmware is 3.3.1 (version 1.0.0 hardware) -- Obtained via iOS : Settings -> General -> About -> AirPods

I suspect we need another firmware version to fix this issue
I really hope it's not a hardware or manufacturing issue

 

[tob!]

Yes, the build quality appears fine on mine, it's just the batter drain from the case.
I noticed the firmware is 3.3.1 (version 1.0.0 hardware) -- Obtained via iOS : Settings -> General -> About -> AirPods

I suspect we need another firmware version to fix this issue
I really hope it's not a hardware or manufacturing issue

Which iOS version do you use? My AirPods don't show up on the About screen.

EDIT: ok, they need to have an active connection to the device (pairing is not sufficient).

 

[NauticalDan]

I took mine off the charger on Friday afternoon - fully charged Airpods and charger. Used about 1-2 hours per day on Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon-Tues. Tues afternoon the case was 30%, and AirPods about 80% (after an hour of use that day). I ran down the battery in airpods and the charge case (to recharge them back up). Eventually ended up with a uncharged case and about 80% charged pods. While sitting in the uncharged case overnight last night (about 12 hours) the case, the AirPods went from about 80 to 49% in the R AirPod and 80 to 30% for the L AirPod.

If it's the airpods that are sorta always on or in standbu, makes me think that it might not really be just the case that is losing charge, it's the airpods themselves which is taking away charge from the case.

I'm not even sure this isn't the way they are supposed to work. The battery in the AirPods is quite small, and they must always be in some sort of standby / always on mode. They dont't have an on/off switch, and the sensors in them like when they go in your ears must always be active. So maybe that's normal.

Apple didn't give a "standby" time for the AirPods, so it's sorta impossible to know.

 

[tomaustin44]

I took mine off the charger on Friday afternoon - fully charged Airpods and charger. Used about 1-2 hours per day on Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon-Tues. Tues afternoon the case was 30%, and AirPods about 80% (after an hour of use that day). I ran down the battery in airpods and the charge case (to recharge them back up). Eventually ended up with a uncharged case and about 80% charged pods. .

Five days (Fri-Tues) seems very reasonable to me... I haven't been happy with how quickly my batteries have been draining. I've been using them on this charge for nearly 48 hours now and have actually only used the airpods for about 4 hours.... the case battery is now on 24%.... if I can get three days of using the airpods for a couple hours of each day before having to charge, I'd be happy. The problem has come from Apple promising that the case will provide an extra 24 hours of charge. I have no doubt that if you continuously drained the Airpods from 100 to 0%, charged them fully in the case and repeated without any standby use, you could get 24 hours of charge... The problem is that the quoted '24 hours' doesn't seem to account for idle time, what seems to be happening is a big chunk of that 24 hours is being eaten by trickle charging. Hard to tell whether that is (a) something that could be fixed with a firmware update (b) a hardware defect, or (c) just normal usage.

If anyone is managing to get the quoted 24 hours of extra charge AND is keeping the Airpods in the case in standby mode for extended periods as well, I'd be interested to hear...

 

[PJWilkin]

From a quick check, it almost looks like the AirPods themselves may always be active to a level (which you would not expect if they are in the case)
Even when in the Case and charging

I say that because I left the case open (so I can discharge it and then do a full charge cycle), and the AirPods, which are in the case, have dropped from 100% to 99%

I'm waiting for the case itself to be discharged so I can fully charge it overnight

 

[NauticalDan]

The problem has come from Apple promising that the case will provide an extra 24 hours of charge. I have no doubt that if you continuously drained the Airpods from 100 to 0%, charged them fully in the case and repeated without any standby use, you could get 24 hours of charge.

Exactly. If I start with 100% AirPods, I can easily play back music for 5 hours straight. But my real world use is more like 1, maybe 2 hours of use then back in the case. After doing that 4 or 5 times (over 4 or 5 days), I'm pretty much out of juice. That's not terrible itself, but when you compare it to the "24 hours of charge" claim that you would expect form the case, it's not even coming up to half of that.

I *think* the AirPods are just in an always on / standby mode losing about 2-3% per hour, regardless of whether they are in the case or not. It sorta makes sense to me, since the sensors in them have to be active to see if in your ears. It's just the expectations were not set very clear. With most bluetooth headsets, there is a physical on or off switch to turn the power off. With these, they must always be "on" or in some sort of standby. So the AirPods would drain from 100 to 0 in about a day or day and a half either sitting on a desk, or sitting in a discharged charge case.

That's my guess. I think the battery life claims should say "24 hours of charge" or "up to 7 days standby" or something like that. But really, there isn't a lot of data or knowledge to base that guess on. Just some anecdotal evidence.

 

[WilliamG]

Five days (Fri-Tues) seems very reasonable to me... I haven't been happy with how quickly my batteries have been draining. I've been using them on this charge for nearly 48 hours now and have actually only used the airpods for about 4 hours.... the case battery is now on 24%.... if I can get three days of using the airpods for a couple hours of each day before having to charge, I'd be happy. The problem has come from Apple promising that the case will provide an extra 24 hours of charge. I have no doubt that if you continuously drained the Airpods from 100 to 0%, charged them fully in the case and repeated without any standby use, you could get 24 hours of charge... The problem is that the quoted '24 hours' doesn't seem to account for idle time, what seems to be happening is a big chunk of that 24 hours is being eaten by trickle charging. Hard to tell whether that is (a) something that could be fixed with a firmware update (b) a hardware defect, or (c) just normal usage.

If anyone is managing to get the quoted 24 hours of extra charge AND is keeping the Airpods in the case in standby mode for extended periods as well, I'd be interested to hear...

I believe this is exactly it. My wife's and mine function similarly. Mine from Apple Store, hers from Best Buy, for what that's worth.

I'm very skeptical of any called-out defective AirPods out there, but I'd be interested in seeing some firmware updates.
[doublepost=1483034125][/doublepost]Ok, just finished my 24 hour test. AirPods full charged and in case. Never used except to check battery life by opening case 4 or 5 times over the course of the day.

After 24 hours, AirPods at 100%, case at 72%.

I do think Apple should adjust the firmware so that the AirPods shut completely OFF when they're in the case. Then when the case is opened, they should switch on and report battery level but then shut off again when case is closed.

I have to assume Apple has access to this functionality, and I can't think of any good reason why the case should be drained so heavily after 24 hours if the AirPods shut off.

Also, I also believe it is the AirPods draining the battery in the case.
[doublepost=1483034259][/doublepost]

Yes, the build quality appears fine on mine, it's just the batter drain from the case.
I noticed the firmware is 3.3.1 (version 1.0.0 hardware) -- Obtained via iOS : Settings -> General -> About -> AirPods

I suspect we need another firmware version to fix this issue
I really hope it's not a hardware or manufacturing issue

This is great info. Hopefully this implies that the AirPods firmware could be updated somehow, perhaps (no guarantees).

 

[utsava]

Well, here's another real word metric from my Apple.com bought AirPods:
Charged my case up to 100% with 100% AirPods at 3PM yesterday. 10PM down to 80%. 10AM next day at 72% and AirPods at 94%. At no time were these used other than to check the battery status. Drain seems rather excessive.

Update: 1PM, no use. Case now at 56%

 

[idunn]

"I spoke to apple support online. They had no answer how long the charge of the case should last when the airpods are not in use . . . The genius was very friendly. I was his first airpods case. Turns out he also has no info on whether this rate of the battery draining is normal."


Apparently most of Apple's QA is handled by customers these days. A good many seem far more inclined to investigate issues and knowledgeable.

 

[truthertech]

↑
Well, here's another real word metric from my Apple.com bought AirPods:
Charged my case up to 100% with 100% AirPods at 3PM yesterday. 10PM down to 80%. 10AM next day at 72% and AirPods at 94%. At no time were these used other than to check the battery status. Drain seems rather excessive.
Update: 1PM, no use. Case now at 56%

Update: 1PM, no use. Case now at 56%

"No use" ??? Life's too short to be fixated on this issue. Everyone says they are great and you are lucky enough to win the lottery and get a pair so use them. It might be as simple as some setting or just new batteries not fully charged up. Or you might have one that needs replacing. So in the meantime, have fun and enjoy. If you still have a problem with the drain in a week, call Apple or if it bothers you return it.

 

[Eventer_]

Hi,

got my Airpods today. So I try some music and then put the pods in the case for charging. When the pods have 100% the case was by 97%. Then I charged the case to 100% but the pods now show me 99%?!