If the above two options are followed, you can be sure that an appropriate choice is made and that the user experience that will be received will be adequate, regardless of whether you are on the street, walking or traveling on an airplane. It is obvious that the communication technology that is used in all models, which are independent headphones, Bluetooth , which guarantees the absence of cables. And, therefore, freedom is maximum.
Contents [show]
- Battery life, what is fundamental
- Important things in these headphones
- Purchase options to always keep in mind Appliances EAH-AZ70WE-K
- Jabra Elite Active 75t
- Sony WF1000XM3
- Bose SoundSport
- JBL LIVE 300TWS
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 headphones
- Jaybird Vista
- Harman Cardon Fly
- Apple AirPods Pro
- Huawei FreeBuds 3
How long do wireless headphones hold a charge?
Wired headphones constantly get tangled in your pocket, which is why, at the moment when you really want to listen to music, you have to waste time and nerves trying to untangle the headset. Bluetooth headphones completely solve this problem. They don't tangle or flop around while you run. But at the same time, the question arises of how long they can hold a battery charge.
Yes. Each wireless earbud contains a small battery. This is a rechargeable battery whose energy needs to be replenished periodically. The duration of operation of such a headset depends on several factors:
- battery capacity;
- Bluetooth version;
- quality of reproduced music;
- volume while listening.
As a rule, each manufacturer of such gadgets always indicates the operating time in the characteristics. It consists of two parameters. Firstly, the duration of operation depends on the headphones themselves. And this will be the time that the headset plays music continuously. Secondly, there is an additional indicator - the battery capacity of the charging case. It allows you to extend the operation of the headset.
This article is about completely wireless headphones, not earbuds.
Typically, a Bluetooth headset works for 4-6 hours on a single charge. This is a good indicator, since your ears are more likely to get tired than the headphones themselves are discharged. In turn, the charging case allows you to extend the operating time up to 24 hours. And thus the autonomy of the gadget becomes simply incredible.
Buying options to always keep in mind
This list represents a selection of models that comply with all of the above and, in addition, provide good battery life as well as high quality playback. Therefore, we are confident that among these headphones you will find one that suits you.
Equipment EAH-AZ70WE-K
You won't have any problems with sound quality with these headphones as they include noise canceling, among other things. It has a built-in microphone with high-precision MEMS technology and its battery life is really good as it reaches 16 hours without any problem.
Jabra Elite Active 75t
This model can be considered an accessory that is suitable for all types of use, with some interesting details. For example, the battery life is up to 28 hours and the charging port is USB Type C. It has no less than four microphones to ensure good conversations.
Sony WF1000XM3
The best noise reduction is offered by this model, which, thanks to the QN1 processor, provides excellent accuracy. NFC lacks simple syncing, but the 32 hours of use they allow is a differentiating element among all the models we've selected.
Bose SoundSport
Specifically designed for sports, they offer IPX4 water resistance, this model's silicone tips make it very ergonomic (and they're quite lightweight). The battery life is hassle-free and the compatibility they offer is very high.
JBL LIVE 300TWS
Aesthetically, this model is impressive and is in no way inferior to any of its competitors on the market. Battery life is very good with up to 20 hours of normal use and it comes with TalkThru technology that allows you to specifically listen to outside sounds when needed.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 headphones
With the most striking body because it is lined with fabric, it is one of the best headphones in terms of battery life as it reaches 28 hours. Its seven-millimeter drivers are of excellent quality, so the sound is quite defined.
Jaybird Vista
Featuring a rather attractive design and most importantly ergonomic so they are quite comfortable, this accessory includes IPX7 water resistance so they are suitable as sports headphones. If you're looking for good battery life, this model offers at least 32 hours.
Harman Cardon Fly
Another good example of a model that offers everything you can look for in independent headphones and, moreover, with high quality. Thanks to its attractive design and very precise sound, especially with bass, the battery life easily exceeds 16 hours. Its leather case is very bright.
Apple AirPods Pro
If you have a device from the Cupertino company, these are headphones that should always be appreciated, as they fit like a glove in the Apple ecosystem. They are noise-canceling, rail-resistant, and also have a battery life of at least 24 hours thanks to the cover.
How to properly charge wireless headphones
For many people, Bluetooth headsets are something new and unknown. Therefore, it is not always clear how to properly handle them and, in particular, charge them. To avoid problems during the energy restoration process, it is recommended to follow the instructions:
- Place the headphones in the case.
- Connect the case to a power source using the supplied cable.
- Make sure that the indicators light up to indicate that the charging process has begun.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated. But at the same time, you must always ensure the cleanliness of the case in which the charging contacts are located. If they become damaged, the restoration process will be very long or the headset will stop charging altogether.
General information about AirPods
The AirPods gadget was developed by Apple and is a full-fledged stereo headset that allows you to receive and make calls, listen to music and control a mobile device with the Android or iOS operating system without removing the smartphone from your pocket.
It consists of two wireless in-ear headphones with built-in microphones, Bluetooth modules and their own power sources - miniature batteries with a capacity of 45.4 mAh each.
Apple AirPods wireless headphones
The headsets are equipped with a special case (case), which is used for storing and charging them. The capacity of the battery built into the case is 519 mAh. It allows you to charge your headphones autonomously, without using external chargers. That is, it acts as a power bank, which will come in handy on the road when the headset batteries are low and there are no sockets nearby.
The battery of the case itself can be charged from a USB port (PC, laptop) or a wall charger with a similar socket. To do this, use the original cable with a Lightning type plug, which is included in the kit.
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You can charge the device using Lightning / USB A, Lightning / USB C or Lightning / Lightning cables - everything will depend on which charging source and which interface will be used. Therefore, pay attention to the type of cable included.
In addition, there are modifications of cases that support wireless charging of its own battery (according to the Qi standard). In both modifications of the case, the headphones are charged by installing the latter in their seats in the case. Thus, wireless charging is supported by revisions of airpods pro and airpods 2.
How long to charge?
How many hours or minutes it will take for the headphones to be fully charged depends on two main indicators:
- battery capacity;
- supported charging speed.
Unlike smartphones, Bluetooth headset manufacturers rarely indicate at what power the energy is restored. But the characteristics always provide information about the battery capacity. Therefore, it can be said with a high degree of probability that the larger the battery, the longer the Bluetooth headphones take to charge.
You can find out the battery capacity not only in the instructions, but also on the charging case.
Regular models charge in 1-2 hours using the charging case. It should be borne in mind that if you plan to restore the energy of the case itself, everything will take up to 10 hours, depending on the battery capacity.
Specifications (Xiaomi Mi 2 Basic)
Model: TWSEJ08WM Net weight: 48g Charging connector: Type C Impedance: 32 Ohm Input: 5V, 1A Wireless connection: Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth profiles: BLE/HFP/HSP/A2DP/AVRCP Supported audio codec: SBC/AAC Radius wireless network range: 10 m (in an open area without obstacles) Charging time: Approx. 1.5 hours Headphone battery life (standalone): approx. 5 h Total battery life (with charging case): approx. 20 h Bluetooth operating frequency range: 2402 - 2480 MHz Maximum transmit power for BT: 10 dBm (EU declaration) Maximum transmit power for BLE: 10 dBm (EU declaration)
Read in full: Instructions for using Xiaomi Mi 2 Basic wireless headphones. Call management, pairing...
How to charge in a case
To restore the energy of wireless headphones, it is absolutely not necessary to connect the case to a power source. First, make sure the case itself is charged. Usually, all you need to do is press a button on the case, after which the indicators light up. If they indicate that the required charge is available, simply put the headphones in the case.
It is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the case. Any speck of dust can contribute to various types of problems. While the headphones are restoring energy, it is better not to touch them. As mentioned earlier, recharging through the case takes 1-2 hours. But if necessary, you can remove the headset at any time to start playing music.
Battery life, what is fundamental
All models that should be considered to have good battery life are those that last longer than 12 hours, but we think the ideal minimum is up to 15 hours . This way you can rest assured that the accessories can be used all day long (since it is not customary to use them during sleep). If it is as we say, you will definitely get rid of your anxiety.
And how is this achieved? Well, given that the dimensions of each of the headphones are not particularly large (and the weight barely exceeds 10 grams), it is not possible to include a battery that allows for use like the above... so the accessory is used: a case . This, in the case of independent models, serves both for protection and maintaining good organization, and for the possibility of recharging while carrying the stored device. An excellent solution that turned out to be the most convenient.
By the way, here are a couple of details you should review to make sure you're making a good purchase. Firstly, the case has a USB port for recharging the built-in battery, since this way you are sure that you will not have problems finding a compatible one if necessary. In addition, if wireless charging is offered, better than better, since this way you can use the corresponding accessories and even smartphones that have reverse charging.
Can I charge without a case?
Despite the large number of advantages, wireless headsets also have a number of disadvantages. One of them is the possibility of easily losing one of the headphones. Practice shows that some users even manage to lose their charging case. And in this case, it will be extremely difficult to restore the gadget’s energy.
In general, you can still charge wireless headphones without a case. But for this you will have to remember the school physics course and try yourself as an electrician. Each “ear” has charging contacts; you need to connect a power source to them, after which energy recovery will begin. The process is described in more detail in the video.
Remember that charging headsets in such a non-standard way is extremely dangerous. There is a high risk of damaging the headphones and, worst of all, feeling the current yourself. Therefore, you should only perform the actions presented in the video if you are confident in your own skills and knowledge.
Poor sound quality
All leading manufacturers of Bluetooth headphones are trying their best to bring their sound quality closer to the level of wired ones, but this is very difficult to achieve. Sound transmitted through the air somehow loses its quality. In good expensive headphones this is almost unnoticeable, but if you bought mid-price headphones, then the noise, lack of bass and low frequencies will be noticed even by a person far from music.
There is no point in talking about cheap headphones at all. In most cases, the music coming out of them is more reminiscent of continuous grunting with words than a pleasant song.
Wireless headphones are great for conversations, but if your goal is to listen to music with pleasure, you will either have to fork out a lot or buy regular ones.
How to understand that the headphones are charged
Let's say you didn't keep track of how long your headset was on charge. How can you determine if the headphones are ready for use? In fact, everything is quite simple. The case of any Bluetooth headset has charge indicators. If they are full, then the headphones are completely ready to play music.
At the same time, it should be noted that the “ears” themselves are mostly devoid of indicators. That is, on the body of the small gadget there is no display of the charge percentage or at least indicators. We have to start from the argument that if the case is charged, then the headphones have fully restored their energy.
Dimensions
Almost all wireless headphones are very small, they are practically invisible in the ear. On the one hand, this is a huge plus, but on the other... It is very easy to lose such small details, for example, popular AirPods are lost very often, and one can imagine the bitterness of those who lose them, because the cost of such a headset is several hundred dollars.
You can lose not only the headphones themselves, but also the charging case, which means that you can charge the headset only “illegally” by connecting wires to them. Such experiments can lead to the fact that the headphones not only do not charge, but also burn out from the inside. Charging boxes are not sold separately, except that you can look for the same “lucky ones” who have lost their headphones and buy a box from them.
How to check the charge of your headphones
Information about the percentage of charge of a Bluetooth headset allows you to calculate with high accuracy how much longer the headphones can work. As mentioned earlier, there is no charge percentage on the body of the “ears”. And even on the case itself there are often only indicators without exact percentages.
But another device (smartphone), which works in tandem with a wireless headset, allows you to stay aware of how much the headphones are charged in any situation. To do this, you need to activate Bluetooth on your phone and connect your ears to it. Next, in the connection section of the device settings, the charge of the headphones and the charge of the case will be displayed.
Please note that not all smartphones support the charge display function.
Characteristics of Honor Choice CE79 headphones
Model: CE79 Total net: 47.1 g Material: ABS + PC Earphone battery: 55 mAh (typ.) Charging case battery: 500 mAh (typ.) Operating frequency: 2402 - 2480 MHz Maximum output power : <10 dBm (for BT), <10 dBm (for BLE)
Read in full: Instructions for using Honor Choice CE79 wireless headphones. Reset settings, control music...
Precautionary measures
Bluetooth headphones are a complex device that requires a special approach. During the process of restoring energy, the user may encounter a variety of problems. To prevent this from happening, all precautions must be taken:
- use only the supplied cable for charging;
- insert the plug into the charging case very carefully so as not to damage the cable;
- do not allow moisture to get on either the headphones or the case, and if moisture does get in, first dry the headset and only then put it on charge;
- Charge your Bluetooth headset only indoors, avoid direct sunlight, or exposure to high or low temperatures;
- Before putting your ears in the “case” to restore energy, check all elements for contamination.
Thus, if you follow all the suggested recommendations, then most likely you will never encounter problems when charging your wireless headset.
Maintainability
Craftsmen manage to do whatever they want with wired headphones: they repair them, solder a third earphone, make one out of two pairs... Alas, such machinations will not work with Bluetooth headphones. Their design is so complex, and the parts are so small, that even professional technicians in service centers refuse to repair such devices and advise exchanging them under warranty.
And if the warranty period has expired, then all that remains is to buy a new headset. By the way, wireless headphones break quite often; due to their small size, they constantly fall, and damage often occurs from impacts inside the case.
Over-ear headphones
Also called: over-ear headphones, monitor headphones (“monitors”), “mugs”
In technical terms, these headphones are correctly called “over-ear” headphones, since their ear cups completely cover the ears. Due to their large size and soundproofing properties, they are generally considered to be more suitable for indoor use than for portable devices. However, the recent incredible popularity of Beats' Monster-brand noise-cancelling "monitors" calls this rule into question.
Advantages:
the larger the headphones, the higher their ability to produce maximum bass and volume levels; the cups of such headphones create a sound space with a stereophonic effect; Surround sound effectively suppresses extraneous noise from the outside and does not let sounds outside.
Flaws:
the dimensions of such headphones make them inconvenient for use with portable devices; some full-size models overheat the ears; A wide headband often interferes with earrings, glasses and some hairstyles.
Additional bells and whistles:
folding design; detachable cord; microphone, track navigation and volume control on the cord; removable pillows; additional 3.5mm jack for daisy-chaining multiple listeners.
What to do next with AirPods when their battery deteriorates?
I have some bad news here. As long as your AirPods work for more than 5 minutes, they will not be replaced in the service . And for the first year, while the warranty is valid, the battery holds up decently, losing a maximum of 20% of its capacity.
Only after a year will you begin to notice that Apple headphones no longer deliver the promised 5 hours. It is impossible to disassemble them (more precisely, it is impossible to put them back together). There is only one option left to solve the problem.
Can you guess which one? Prepare money for a new model. Better yet, wait until the fall, they promise a second generation.
Returning to the application. Pod Magician is not ideal : in the current version of the program, the percentage states of the left and right headphones are mixed up.
The additional function (manual connection to AirPods) does not always work. You can set up a notification in macOS that your battery is about to run low, but the headphones can report this themselves.
On the other hand, it's better than taking a pen and actually writing out charge percentages on a piece of paper.
Thanks to the developer, Apple - collective “ugh” for the need to use crutches.
What to do if the headset is not charging
The reasons for the lack of charge may be the following.
| Some gadgets cannot charge when turned off | When interacting with a computer, almost every device will have to be turned on |
| The battery is completely discharged | It happens that the device does not immediately respond to connection to the charger and you need to wait |
| The device or power supply may be damaged | From improper operation, and for reasons beyond the control of the owner |
| The connector for connecting the charger wire is loose or broken | It’s worth trying to connect the gadget to a different port or change the cable to a similar one |
By following the manufacturer's instructions and following the useful advice of technical specialists, you can fully operate your convenient gadget wirelessly for a long time, without forgetting the basic rules.
You can’t just take and look at the status of AirPods batteries
This is what the battery in AirPods looks like.
It is impossible to get it out without damaging the headphones. Apple has not built a battery wear monitoring system into AirPods. Yes, you can see the remaining charge of each earbud on your iPhone or Mac. But you won’t know how the battery cells feel in general.
The solution is strange and is already leading to complaints. People often write in the comments: AirPods began to work less after some firmware update, what should I do?
I’ll tell you a non-secret: there is nothing to do, and the firmware is not to blame. The battery in your AirPods has reached the middle of its service life (or worse).
Honestly, I scoured the entire Internet in search of an opportunity to find out how many mAh is left in my AirPods. People suggest manually measuring how long it takes for headphones to discharge: turn on music, then monitor the iOS widget and write out percentages from there every 10 minutes.
Well, trash, I didn’t have enough to get a notebook in 2022. Thank God they came up with a program for this.
Checking the charging status
You can check the charging status of AirPods with a charging case using your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.
On an iOS device
On your iPhone, open the cover of the case containing your AirPods and place the case close to the device. Wait a few seconds until the screen shows the charging status of your AirPods with charging case.
You can also check the charging status of AirPods with a charging case using the Batteries widget on your iOS device. The case's charge level is only displayed if there is at least one AirPods in the case.
On a Mac
- Open the cover or remove the AirPods from the case.
- Click the Bluetooth icon ( ) on the menu bar.
- Hover over AirPods with charging case in the menu.
Battery life information
When the battery level is low, one or both AirPods will play a sound. If the battery level is low, the signal will be single, and immediately before the AirPods turn off, the signal will be double.
AirPods Pro have the following features.
- The case lasts multiple charge cycles so you can listen to music for over 24 hours 7 and talk on the phone for over 18 hours. 10
- AirPods Pro can last up to 4.5 hours of playback time 8 or up to 3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge. eleven
- If AirPods Pro are charged in the case for 5 minutes, they can last for about 1 hour of playback time 9 or about 1 hour of talk time. 12
AirPods (2nd generation) have the following features.
- The case lasts multiple charge cycles, so you can listen to music for over 24 hours 1 and talk on the phone for up to 18 hours. 2
- AirPods can last up to 5 hours of playtime 3 or up to 3 hours of talk time on a single charge. 4
- When AirPods are charged in the case for 15 minutes, you can get up to 3 hours of listening time 5 and up to 2 hours of talk time. 6
In-ear headphones
Also called: in-ear headphones, earbuds, in-ear headphones, earbuds
Typically, in-ear headphones are included with portable players and are soon being replaced by full-size models with better sound performance. Miniature “earbuds” are fixed in the outer part of the shell or inserted into the ear canal, and some models are equipped with special clips (for example, Sony XBA-S65) for more reliable fastening and a tight fit of the earphone.
Advantages:
ultra-compact and lightweight; most models are equipped with a microphone and track switching buttons on the cord; the level of insulation from external noise varies from moderate to maximum; Earbud headphones have little or no interference with wearing earrings, glasses, hats and creative haircuts.
Flaws:
sound quality and low frequency reproduction parameters are often significantly inferior to full-size models; with prolonged use may cause discomfort; some earbuds are quite difficult to insert into and remove from the ear canal, which makes them not particularly suitable for office work; Due to the two-cable design, the “drop” wires get tangled much more often.
On-ear headphones
Also called: close-fitting headphones, semi-open headphones, lightweight headphones
These headphones are attached using a headband, neckband or clip and fit tightly to the ears; The product range covers a wide range from inexpensive headsets for portable devices to professional headphones for indoor use. Since not all closed-back over-ear headphones enclose the entire ear, some prefer completely sealed monitor headphones (see below) as they ensure maximum absorption of external noise and do not allow sound to escape outside. However, over-ear headphones are the best option for use in office environments and other places where you need to respond to outside sounds.
Advantages:
comfortable; much less overheating of the ears than full-size headphones; Some models fold for easy transport.
Flaws:
The sound insulation characteristics are inferior to in-ear and full-size headphones; inferior to full-size headphones in terms of bass reproduction power; sounds from the headphones are heard by those around you.
Additional bells and whistles:
microphone and track switch buttons on the cord; spare pair of pillows included; carrying case; folding design; spiral non-stretch cord.
Noise canceling headphones
These headphones drown out the acoustic background of the environment, generating interference that blocks the penetration of extraneous noise into the ear. A headset with active soundproofing won't silence the world, but the best models almost completely suppress the whistling of air conditioning systems on airplanes. Noise-canceling headphones come in any form factor from full-size to earbuds. Since you don't have to turn up the volume to shout over background noise, fatigue and the detrimental effect of headphones on your hearing are significantly reduced. You will also be able to hear quiet music effects better.
Advantages:
active noise reduction technology almost completely eliminates sounds from the outside; Ideal for traveling by plane and traveling on public transport during peak hours.
Flaws:
transform “natural” musical sound; Some people experience nausea caused by the characteristic sound of the noise canceling element.
Additional bells and whistles:
wireless connection; carrying case; rechargeable battery; navigation and volume buttons on the earcup.
Brief Glossary of Terms
In the technical specifications on the headphone box or on the manufacturer's website, you will come across several special terms. Here's what they mean:
Frequency response:
In most cases, it is impossible to predict the sound quality of full-size speaker systems based on frequency response, let alone headphones. Traditionally, manufacturers exaggerate frequency response figures so much that they become completely unrepresentative. Even in the specifications of the most unreliable and cheap headphones, as a rule, proud indicators of low-frequency output flaunt - 15 Hz or 20 Hz, while the sound they reproduce is very superficial. Bass lovers tend to prefer large headphones.
Total harmonic distortion:
Headphones with a low TMS will sound better than headphones with a high TMS. However, the figures indicated in the specifications - “less than 1%” - are absolutely useless for assessing sound quality. To feel the difference in harmonic distortion between two pairs of headphones, listen to recordings of playing an acoustic guitar. Then you will understand which ones produce a clearer sound.
Impedance module:
In general, the lower the electrical resistance of headphones (also called impedance), the easier it is to squeeze out the loudest sound possible. But again, low impedance does not guarantee high audio performance, since other factors can limit the volume limit. Many MP3 players (the exception is Apple's iPod) do not have high output power, so a savvy buyer will check the volume before buying headphones. To eliminate all doubts, try listening to them with your player.
You will find a complete list of terms in our dictionary of audio terms.
