If you have a new pair of Bluetooth headphones, you are perhaps curious about how long the battery lasts. Knowing that will let you know how long you can play music before you have to charge the headphones. You’ll also as well as how long the headphones themselves will probably last before you need to replace them. The precise answers, of course, will of course depend on what kind of headphones you have and how good they are. Today I’ll try to answer both parts of this question and fully explore how long bluetooth headphones last.
In this article, we’ll go over Bluetooth headphones battery life across all price points, as well as how you can take care of your headphones for best battery health.
Battery Life of Bluetooth Headphones
The average battery life for Bluetooth earbuds is between 4 and 6 hours. Bluetooth headsets can last longer with a battery life up to 6 to 12 hours with a single charge. If you go with a premium brand of Bluetooth headphones, you’ll likely get a battery life between 20 and 22 hours of battery life with a single charge.
Battery capacity determines how long your headphones will last on a single charge. A larger battery that’s between 600 mAH and 1,000 mAH can last dozens of hours. However, these are large and really can only fit in headphones. Earbuds can only fit smaller batteries, which explains their shorter battery life. Other factors, like noise-cancelation, will also drain the battery much quicker.
Factors That Affect Headphone Charging
Bluetooth headset charging technology determines how quickly your headphones will reach full charge. If they have quick-charge or rapid-charge support, your headphones will charge rather quickly, in as short as between 1 to 2 hours. Standard charging will take longer, usually between 2 to 3 hours.
Your Bluetooth earbuds or headset does use battery even when they’re in standby mode. However, standby mode only uses a tiny, negligible bit of battery. The kind of Bluetooth technology being used also affects how much energy is used. A Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology, like Bluetooth 4.0, will use a smaller amount of energy than the standard type of Bluetooth.
Bluetooth Headphones with Awesome Battery Life
If battery life is important to you, compare the battery life of different Bluetooth earbuds or headphones when shopping. Below are some great options to consider when deciding which Bluetooth earbuds or headset to buy.
Edifier W820BT Bluetooth Headphones
These headphones (Amazon link) have an incredible battery life of up to as many as 80 hours and utilize Bluetooth v4.1 with CSR technology. It provides high-quality lossless audio while keeping amazing power efficiency.
Avantree Audition 40 hr Wireless & Wired Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones
With Avantree Audition 40 hr Wireless & Wired Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones (Amazon link), you get 40 hours of playback with just a single charge. These headphones support advanced 4.0 and NFC, too. They have an aptX certified Bluetooth transmitter to ensure you enjoy high-quality Hi-Fi sound with clearer treble and bass.
It also has 2-in-1 wired and wireless technology. You can take them on the go with their wireless charge. When you’re sitting at home, you can use a wired cord to not worry about draining your battery so quickly.
Tribit XFree Tune Bluetooth Headphones
These headphones (here’s the Amazon link) are able to run for as many as 40 hours off a single charge with their 580 mAH battery. It takes about 4 hours for the device to reach full charge. They have dual 40mm soundstage drivers for excellent sound quality.
DOQAUS 52 Hours Playtime Hi-Fi Stereo Foldable Headset
This headset (Amazon link) is foldable for convenient carry but also offers an enormous 600mAH battery. This ensures you get at least 45 hours of playtime when the device is in wireless mode. You can even connect this headset to two devices simultaneously to easily switch between them. That way you can have them connected to your phone and tablet simultaneously.
Batteries Can Will Eventually Die Permanently
Headsets use non-replaceable lithium-ion batteries, which lose their capacity over time. All lithium-ion batteries will eventually die permanently after a certain number of recharges. The average charge cycle of Li-ion and Li-po batteries is between 500 and 1000 charges. Given this reality, if you charge your headphones or earbuds every day, you should be able to expect the battery to stay viable for between 1.5 to 3 years.
Charging your device less frequently may lead to the battery staying viable for longer.
Don’t Let Your Battery Fully Drain Before Charging
One important step you can take to help your battery stay viable longer is to refrain from letting it completely discharge before recharging it. The battery level at which it’s generally best to keep your battery is between 40 and 90%. Try to maintain a balance between how many charge cycles you do and keeping a certain charge level.
One full charge cycle takes place when there is a full charge and discharge. Once you’ve exceeded a specific number of these cycles, you will probably notice that there is a decline in your battery’s performance efficiency. Li-po and Li-ion battery life can often be extended if you keep your device charged between 40% and 90%. Try to top off your charge before it dips below 40% to keep a balance between the number of charge cycles and charge levels.
I always recommend a full charge before taking your Bluetooth headphones on a plane or any trip.
Not All Batteries are Replaceable
Whether you’re able to replace the batteries in a Bluetooth headset depends on whether or not they’re replaceable. When a Bluetooth device doesn’t have replaceable batteries and you cannot replace them yourself, check to see if the warranty period of the device has ended. If it hasn’t, request a replacement for the device. Don’t take the chance of trying to replace batteries yourself and accidentally voiding your warranty.
One of the most important facts to keep in mind when shopping for Bluetooth headsets and earbuds is that you will probably have to replace them every 2 to 4 years. This is one reason why many people avoid going too expensive with their Bluetooth purchases. The key is to balance your needs and preferences regarding quality and cost, as well as how often you are willing to pay that amount of money for Bluetooth headsets or earbuds.
Take Good Care of your Device and its Battery
Remember how crucial it is to take care of the battery. An important part of this is to stop the battery from overheating. Avoid using special fast chargers if they don’t come with your device.
The better you take care of your battery, the longer your device will last. You’ll be able to save money in the long run by not having to replace your headphones as frequently.