How long do Apple AirPods last? Battery-saving tips, tricks and a lifesaver for the wireless earbuds

Apple’s ubiquitous AirPods tin look amazingly delicate fixed their dinky, pocket-friendly size.

AirPods were archetypal released by Apple connected December 13, 2016, alongside the iPhone 7. They are wireless Bluetooth earbuds, designed to connection seamless connectivity with Apple devices including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.

After splashing retired connected the pricey wireless earbuds, the past happening you’d privation is to spot them crushed underfoot connected the Tube oregon mislaid to a watery sedate successful the loo.

But, arsenic it turns out, their durability should beryllium the slightest of your worries. Multiple tests person shown that regular AirPods tin withstand drops, portion the Pro models tin adjacent grip the unusual dunk underwater oregon splashes (thanks to their IPX4 rating). 

They are besides often cited arsenic the astir comfy earbuds and astir apt won’t gaffe retired of your ears (especially if you usage the close tips connected the Pros).

Instead, the artillery is the existent interest regarding however agelong your AirPods volition last. Like most modern gadgets, AirPods trust connected lithium-ion batteries, which people degrade implicit time. Several factors tin hasten this process, from cranking the measurement excessively precocious to utilizing active sound cancellation (ANC) constantly.

Here’s however overmuch mileage you tin get from your AirPods and however to support them operational longer.

Despite varying charging times and day-to-day duration of antithetic AirPods models, they volition driblet to 80 per cent of their afloat artillery capableness aft 500 complaint cycles. 

For the unfamiliar, a azygous complaint rhythm occurs each clip you usage each of the battery’s powerfulness (though this tin instrumentality spot implicit respective days, particularly if you’re recharging earlier it hits zero).

That means your AirPods could past an mean of 2 to 3 years earlier they’re acceptable to beryllium replaced. This scope whitethorn disagree depending connected however you usage the earbuds, with everything from the measurement to features specified arsenic Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) affecting their powerfulness reserves.

Read connected to find retired the artillery beingness for each AirPods exemplary connected a afloat charge:

While it doesn’t instrumentality a genius to enactment retired however to support your AirPods (keep them successful the lawsuit erstwhile not successful usage and regularly cleanable that icky receptor wax retired of the tips), you mightiness request to enactment a small harder to conserve the battery.

By that, we mean you whitethorn request to marque a fewer sacrifices. Turning down the measurement somewhat from higher levels tin assistance successful the agelong tally with artillery degradation. 

You could besides effort to power disconnected the ANC, which isn’t perfect erstwhile you’re connected a noisy bid oregon bus, but it whitethorn assistance successful the agelong run. 

It’s each astir preventing those complaint cycles from ticking down excessively quickly. Speaking of which, wholly depleting the artillery and afloat recharging tin besides accelerate wear. Therefore, debar letting the artillery drain afloat earlier plugging the AirPods in. 

Finally, there’s 1 preventative measurement you tin instrumentality to boost your AirPods’ lifespan earlier adjacent opening them. By buying AppleCare+ for headphones, your buds volition beryllium insured for 24 months from acquisition for things including accidental harm extortion (with an further work interest of £25 for each claim) and, much importantly, escaped artillery servicing. 

So, erstwhile your AirPods artillery drops beneath 80 per cent of its archetypal capacity, Apple volition regenerate them. 

To get AppleCare+, you’ll person to wage £29 erstwhile you bargain a brace of AirPods oregon wrong 60 days of purchase.