Headphone Battery Life Playbook

The Bluetooth wireless standard has enjoyed a phenomenal adoption rate in the past few years. The initial hurdles that prevented the first-generation devices from being adopted have been overcome, and new applications have been developed to enhance headphone battery life.

Although the handset is the most important application for this technology the headset is second and fastest growing. There are many factors that will ensure Bluetooth’s success in the future, including improvements in design (size and fit), falling costs and new laws that allow hands-free calls.

Benefits of Bluetooth Adoption Rates

These rapid growths have brought about battery-management problems for Bluetooth headset designs. This includes the need to ensure safety, size, and quick charging.

Although industrial design tends to take precedence over battery design and battery-charger ICs, the new technologies and battery charging solutions allow for these two seemingly contradictory goals to be combined.

Bluetooth headsets are now small and sleek and can offer long talk times and safe and quick battery charging.

We will take a closer look into typical Bluetooth system implementations in order to understand better how these solutions can be implemented. Next, we will show how an innovative method of charging Bluetooth headsets using another portable device is possible.

Are Modern Wireless Headphones Battery-Reliable?

Each year the battery life gets longer, and they get better. You could expect only a few hours of use in the beginning. Today, we can boast over 60 hours of battery life with full-sized headphones and 12 hours for wireless earbuds.

Wireless Headphone Battery Life

Everything that isn’t connected directly to a wall outlet or external device needs to be powered by a battery. The longevity of wireless headphones is impressive. High-end headphones are capable of lasting between 20-30 hours on one charge. With all features activated, this is the case with premium headphones.

It is amazing that some budget headphones can last up to 70 hours. These headphones lack features such as active noise-canceling, or awareness mode. They drain the battery life faster.

Wireless Earbuds Battery Life

Some wireless headphones can boast impressive battery life specs. You need to first divide them into wireless and true wireless earbuds.

The first are connected by a cable. They last for up to 24 hours and are currently considered best in class.

Wireless earbuds are gradually disappearing as true wireless solutions are far more convenient. These wireless headphones can not only last longer than other types, but also have a higher battery life. Some models can provide up to 70 hours of playing time.

Earbuds, however, last only 5-12 hours each charge. Most of the juice is kept in the charging case. Many truly wireless earbuds are quick to charge, giving you an extra 1-2 hours of use time in just a few seconds.

What features make your battery drain faster?

Wireless headphones have many technologies. But all these features drain your battery faster than you might think.

Active Noise Cancelling

Bluetooth and ANC are excellent examples of how your headphone battery can rapidly die. Most manufacturers only state how long the headphones will last without having any additional features enabled.

You can expect about 50% shorter battery life if the noise-cancellation is enabled, as it takes a lot more processing power.

Awareness Mod

The awareness or transparency mode, which drains power in the exact same way as ANC.

It basically takes in the noise from the environment and puts it into your ears. The headphones have microphones that allow it to do this. This feature allows you to see what’s going on around your head without having to take off your headphones.

Listening at High Volumes

Sound is a series or mechanical waves that our ears can detect. Higher amplitudes (or the volume of sound) are, the more powerful they will be. You need more power to do that. You need more power to make your drivers sound louder. The same principle applies to headphones: the more energy you put into a coil, the louder it will sound.

Therefore, higher volume listening drains your battery quicker. The battery life expectancy is usually stated by the manufacturer when you listen at approximately 50% volume.

The manufacturer will often state that the battery can last for longer than it is supposed to. However, cranking up your volume can not only cause battery problems but can also harm your hearing long term.

How to prolong the life of your headphones’ battery?

Disabling the above-mentioned features is the best thing. But what about the battery? Every charge causes the battery cells to slowly lose their capacity. The speed of battery degradation can be reduced by caring for your headphones.

There are some things you can do that will prolong the battery’s life.

Your charge should not be too high or too low

When charged between 30-80%, lithium-ion battery is most efficient. Lowering the charge or increasing the voltage can cause battery damage and unnecessary stress.

It is common to leave our portable devices plugged in overnight. However, this is not the best for the battery’s overall health.

A good quality charger is recommended

Both the battery charger, and the battery have protection boards that prevent them from short-circuiting. These controls regulate electron flow and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Even though your headphones may be connected to a powerful charger, the battery inside won’t draw more than it can. This means that there is no risk of the battery overheating.

However, it is risky to purchase a very cheap charger. These chargers might not have enough protections, which could cause them to overheat. Some products may charge more than what’s printed on the packaging.

Store your Bluetooth headphones

Keep your wireless headphones charged up to 60% if you intend to keep them for long periods of time. You should then turn the headphones off and put them in a dry place that is not too hot. It is necessary to recharge them approximately every 4-5 month.

Avoid extreme heat

Your lithium ion batteries are ravaged by heat. The temperature cannot go above 50 degrees Celsius without causing too much stress to the battery. Usually, manufacturers recommend that temperatures not exceed 50°C. This may seem like a lot, but it is possible to quickly reach that temperature by placing your device in a vehicle under the direct sun.

You can only use one earbud at once

This is possible if your wireless headphones support it. Although it may not be practical if the earbuds will only be used for a short time, this might make sense if there are a lot of calls to be made or if you plan on taking a long vacation. You can extend the life of your earbuds by simply using one earbud at a time.

TLDR Summary to extend the life of your earbuds:

Maintain the magic ratio: Ideally, keep your electronic devices topped up between 20% and 80%. You can decrease your battery life by letting the charge rise and fall beyond this limit.

Noise Cancelling Features: Noise cancelling will drain your batteries faster than normal use. Use the noise cancellation only when necessary to prolong the life of your headphones.

Is it possible to damage the battery in wireless headphones?

The truth is that lithium-ion battery in our devices can be very unstable. They can burst into flames from many reasons. Excessive heat and the rapture or the housing of the battery, bending, overcharging. You should take great care of them and avoid these:

Store them in a case

True wireless earbuds are usually equipped with a hard-plastic charging case. This case not only charges the earbuds but also protects them against drops. It also keeps them in their place so that they don’t slip away.

A lot of wireless headphones include a hard-shell case. It adds security to your expensive headphones, protecting them from being crushed beneath your luggage’s weight.

Prevent damage from physical

It is best to keep headphones in a hard case. While our headphones may look fine, internal damage can occur. You should be careful not to break the housing.

Headphones can be “swelling”

It is an indication that something is wrong with your battery. This phenomenon is often more frequent with lower-cost rechargeable batteries. However, original batteries are not completely safe.

The problem could be caused by previous damage to the headphones, or a faulty battery. But it’s usually due age. Devices that are often overcharged or not charged for a while are most likely to experience this problem.

Gas formation may be encouraged by leaving the battery of your device unattended. Because the battery is sealed, it slowly expands.

You could risk a battery burst if you continue to charge your device. The device could start to release dangerous gases or explode in the worst case. Stop using headphones if the swelling persists.

How Long Does an Earbud Battery Last?

While it is difficult to say, the truth is they don’t last forever. Many cheap rechargeable batteries contain chips that can fail much faster than the battery itself. This can lead to false reports of empty batteries even when fully charged. Many of them eventually stop working due to simple physics.

Each time you top up your battery, an electrolyte layer starts to build up. It’s like a new freezer that can be filled. However, after some time, ice crystals build up on the walls. This prevents you from putting in more. The same thing happens to your battery.

Therefore wireless headphones usually last around 2-3 years. The first sign is that your wireless headphones are no longer able to last 10 hours. They will only last 5 hours at most after a while.

The battery’s lifespan will decrease over time, and they will become less reliable. It’s not that easy to swap the battery, so you might have to buy a brand-new pair.

The rapid advances in battery technology mean that headphones can last for 3 years. If you want the best features, buying new headphones might be a good option.

You should also be aware of the battery life of your new wireless headphones. A longer charge is better. If you are buying a large pair of headphones, ensure that they have a 3.5mm connection. Even if the battery runs out, you can still use the headphone jack to listen – although this is less common with modern smartphones.

Headphone Battery Life: Conclusion

There is no need to replace the headphone battery. If your Bluetooth headphones appear to be draining faster than normal, contact the person who sold them the product and inquire about having the battery replaced under warranty. If this is not possible you can often buy a brand-new pair of headphones.

Headphone Battery Life: FAQs

How to Use Settings to Check Bluetooth Device Battery Life

You can check your headphone’s battery with a wide range of devices, including those that run on both Android and IOS. This guide will help you check your Bluetooth headphone batteries, regardless of whether you’re using a PC or a mobile device.

Windows 10

Step 1.: Open the Settings. Next, press “Window Key +I” then click on the “Device”.

Step 2: Click the “Bluetooth and other device” button in the left-pane menu

Step 3: You will find a battery percentage indicator at the right side under “Mouse and keyboard, open”.

Mac

OPTION 1.

Step 1. Click the Apple symbol and then “System Preferences”, from the menu bar.

Step 2.: Choose “Bluetooth”.

Step 3. Select the checkbox to “Show Bluetooth” from the menu bar.

Step4: To check your battery levels, click “Bluetooth” from the menu bar. Choose your device to display the battery level.

OPTION 2 : OTHER DEVICES MAGIC KEYBOARD

Step 1.: Select the Apple icon > System preferences from the menu bar.

Step 2 Select the keyboard

Step3: Scroll down to the bottom of the window to see the Keyboard battery levels.

Android Phone

Step 1.: Connect your Android phone to a Bluetooth device.

Step 2: Open the Settings app, and then go to “Connect Devices.”

Step 3.: Tap the word “Bluetooth”, not the switch next to the button, and you’ll see a complete listing of all connected devices as well as their battery level.

Compatible Bluetooth Devices

Step 1. Open Bluetooth on your phone. Pair your Bluetooth device.

Step 2. Click the “Edit” button to open the “Today View Settings.

Step 3. Once you’re in the “Add Widgets” menu, tap on the green plus (+), icon next to the widget “Batteries”, under “More Widgets.”

Step 4: Next, you can view the current battery status on “Today”.

Tips and Suggestions to Change a Bluetooth Headphone Battery

We do not recommend you replace your Bluetooth headphones battery yourself. There are a few reasons you shouldn’t do this:

It is possible to void the warranty.
Earbuds are small and can cause internal damage to the headphone. These can also make it uncomfortable to wear.
If your headphones have waterproof protection, it is possible to damage the waterproof seal by opening the casing.
It is unnecessary to place yourself in a dangerous situation.
It is not often worth the time and expense to buy new headphones.
If your headphones do not have rechargeable batteries, and you need to change them, consult the manual.