Headphone Battery: Why Go So Fast, And How to Extend the Life?

Want to keep your headphone battery performing at its best? Find out why your headphone battery keeps running out very fast in this guide. Discover the essential tips to extend the life of your Bluetooth headphones batteries.

Wireless headphones have become very popular in recent years. From fitness enthusiasts to gamers, people from all walks of life have embraced the convenience and freedom that wireless headphones offer.

But did you know that this freedom comes at a cost? That's right. Wireless headphones rely heavily on batteries to function. Without a reliable power source, your headphones would simply be silent and lifeless.

In this guide, we'll take a closer look at headphone batteries. Keep reading to find out whether headphone batteries are reliable and how to maintain them.

Table Of Contents

Is Wireless Headphone Battery Reliable?

Gone are the days when you had to recharge your headphones after just a few hours of use. Today's wireless headphones are designed to deliver hours of uninterrupted listening pleasure on a single charge.

Modern wireless headphones offer up to 70 hours of battery life, and wireless earbuds typically offer an incredible 12 hours per single charge. Let's discuss more about these audio devices and their impressive battery life below:

Wireless Headphones

Many wireless headphones are packed with extra features that enhance your listening experience. These headphones come equipped with features such as:

Active noise cancelling (ANC)
Transparency mode

When all these features are turned on, premium wireless headphones can last for 20 to 30 hours on a single charge.

What about headphones that don't have ANC or Ambient Mode features, you ask? Standard wireless headphones can reach up to 70 hours of listening time per charge.

Wireless Earbuds

Wireless earbuds typically have a shorter battery life as compared to wireless headphones. This is due to the fact that wireless earbuds have smaller batteries. Generally, how long these devices last is determined by the battery size.

So, due to their small size, wireless earbuds have a short battery lifespan. For many earbuds, the average battery life is 5 to 12 hours with a single charge. However, how long a wireless earbud's battery lasts is greatly determined by the model.

Why Are My Headphone Batteries Draining Too Fast?

It's not fun when your headphone batteries keep running out of juice before you are done enjoying your favorite tunes. While battery life can vary among different headphone models, several factors can contribute to this issue. Here are some common reasons why your headphone battery is draining too fast:

Listening at High Volume

You probably love listening to your favorite tunes at a high volume level. Yeah, I know that loud music makes you feel alive and energized, but it is actually dangerous.

Apart from damaging your hearing, listening to music at high volumes significantly increases the power consumption of your headphones. As a result, your headphone battery will drain much faster than when you listen at low or moderate volume.

Activating Advanced Features

Features such as Active Noise Cancelling or Transparency Mode could be the reason why your headphone battery is running out too soon.

Active Noise Cancelling is a feature that helps reduce background noises. This feature is great as it allows you to fully immerse yourself in your music or call without being distracted by the world around you. However, when the ANC is activated, your headphones will consume a lot of power, thus draining your battery faster than usual.

Transparency mode or Ambient Mode is another feature that could be draining your battery faster. This feature picks up ambient noises around you. It then plays them through your headphones, making you more aware of your surroundings. However, like ANC, the Transparency mode can drain your headphone's battery when turned on.

Leaving Your Headphones On All the Time

Do you always keep your headphones on even when you are not using them? If your answer is yes, then you might be contributing to your headphone's battery draining faster than expected.

Most modern wireless headphones have lithium battery cells whose power drains whenever your headphones are turned on. If you plan to use your headphones infrequently, consider turning them off.

Charging Habits

Charging practices can affect your headphone's battery health. If you constantly fail to charge your headphones well before using them, the headphone battery will degrade faster. Additionally, when you overcharge your headphones, the battery will lose its efficiency over time.

How to Extend Your Headphone Battery Life

We all want our headphone batteries to last for hours and hours. After all, there's nothing more frustrating than having your headphones run out of power just as you are about to head out for a workout.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to extend your headphone's battery life. Let's look at some of them:

Turn Off Unneeded Features

The first thing you want to do is to disable all those power-hungry features, like Active Noise Cancelling and Ambient Mode, when you are not actively using them. You can activate them when necessary.

Don't Let Your Charge Go Too Low or Too High

If you want your headphone's battery to last, try to keep it charged between 30% and 80%. Letting the charge go too low or too high will affect the overall health and longevity of your headphone battery. If possible, avoid charging them overnight.

Don't Overcharge

On average, wireless headphones take about 2 to 3 hours to reach full charge. However, with modern advancements in charging technology, you can now charge your headphones in as little as 45 minutes.

To avoid overcharging, you need to disconnect your headphones from the charger once they are fully charged.

Use High-Quality Charger

Modern headphones' batteries and battery chargers come equipped with a protection board designed to prevent short circuits. Even when you plug your headphones into a very powerful charger, the battery will only draw as much current as it needs without overheating.

However, low-quality chargers might not have a protection board, which can lead to various issues, such as overheating and slow charging.

Store the Headphones Properly

When not in use, store the headphones in a safe, dry place. If you are going to store them for an extended period, you need to first charge them up to 60%.

Lithium-ion batteries can slowly self-discharge over time, even when not in use. To prevent your headphone battery from recharging too low, ensure that you recharge them every 4 to 5 months.

Can I Damage The Battery Inside My Wireless Headphones?

Yes, it is possible to damage the battery inside your wireless headphones if you do not use or maintain them correctly. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to various factors that can affect their lifespan and performance. They include:

Overcharging
Excessive heat
Bending
Rapture of the battery housing

To prevent damaging your headphone batteries, consider the following practices:

Keep them in a protective case: When you are not using your wireless earbuds, keep them in their charging case. Wireless headphones also have their own protective covers that provide an extra layer of protection against physical damage.
Handle them with care: Treat your headphones gently and avoid rough handling. Avoid sitting on them, dropping them on the floor, or even stepping on them.

Can I Replace Batteries In My Headphones?

It is not advisable to replace your wireless headphone's battery yourself. For one, most headphone manufacturers void warranties if the headphones or earbuds are repaired by anyone other than an authorized technician.

Wireless earbuds are also tiny, making them challenging to disassemble without causing damage. If you are not in a position to buy new headphones, seek professional assistance.

Final Thoughts

If you want your wireless headphone batteries to last longer, you must take good care of your headphones. Mishandling or neglecting proper care will lead to issues like shorter battery life or inadequate performance.

By turning off unneeded features, using high-quality chargers and storing headphones in a protective case, you can ensure that your wireless headphones batteries remain in peak condition for years.