How Long Does AirPod Case Battery Last?

24 Feb 2022

How long does the AirPod case battery last after a full charge? The AirPods case is not only for safe storage. The case acts as a power bank for the AirPods as well.

As long as the case is charged, your AirPods will be too.

But how long does a fully charged case last? And how many recharges will it provide for your AirPods? Continue reading to find out.

How Long Does the AirPod Case Battery Last?

The amount of usage time that the AirPod case has depends on its model. For example, the Generation 3 AirPod case will last longer than Gen 1 and 2.

AirPod cases take an hour to charge fully, regardless of the model. You can do quick recharges with AirPods but it's always best to let the case charge fully.

To extend the usage time of the AirPods, have the volume at 50%. This will help the AirPod case battery last longer too since you won’t recharge the AirPods as often.

If you only use your AirPods for an hour or two at a time, they probably don’t need a full recharge often. This will allow the case to last a few days before it needs to charge.

If you use the AirPods for work, then you’re likely recharging them multiple times a day. In this instance, the case will need a recharge by the end of the day.

Wondering how to check the battery on your AirPods case? If the status light is green, your case can still charge the AirPods. When the light is amber, the case needs to be charged.

If you want the battery percentage, find out how to check the AirPod case battery on your Mac.

AirPod Case Usage Time According to the Model

First and Second Generation AirPods

1st and 2nd Gen AirPod cases will give you 24-hours of listening time or 18-hours of talk time.

These AirPods either have a wired or wireless charging case. The type of case doesn’t affect the charging or usage time.

Gen 1 and 2 AirPods take between 20 to 30-minutes to charge. You can do a 15-minute recharge, which will give you 3-hours of usage.

A single charge will either give your AirPods 3-hours of talk time or 5-hours of listening time.

how long do airpods last out of the case

AirPod Pro

The AirPod Pro case has a similar usage time to the Gen 1 and 2.

It will give you over 18-hours of talk time or 24-hours of listening time. The difference comes when using the AirPods.

It takes about 20-minutes to charge the AirPods.

A single charge provides the AirPod Pro with either 3.5-hours of talk time or 4.5-hours of listening time. This is different from the talk time and listening time ratio for the previous models.

You could do a quick 5-minute recharge too and you’ll get an hour of usage from your AirPods.

Third Generation AirPods

The Gen 3 AirPods and case provide slightly more usage time. You'll have 30-hours of listening time or 20-hours of talk time with a full case.

A single charge will give your AirPods 4-hours of talk time or 6-hours of listening time. The extra usage time might not seem like much, but it is.

It means that you’ll get at least an extra hour out of your AirPods before they need a recharge. It also means that even with constant use, you won’t need to charge the case every day.

Much like the AirPod Pro, 3rd Gen AirPods can last for an hour with a 5-minute recharge.

AirPod Max

The AirPod Max case is not rechargeable and can’t charge the headphones. It’s still advised to keep the headphones in the case when not in use.

The Smart Case will enable an ‘ultralow-power mode’. This will preserve the battery and reduce how often the headphones are charged.

A single charge will give you 20-hours of usage. Unlike the other AirPods, this 20-hours applies to listening, talking, and playback time.

how long can airpods last without case

How Many Recharges Does a Fully Charged AirPod Case Provide?

An AirPod case that’s fully charged will keep your AirPods charged too.

You’ll have about 4 recharges for your AirPods, with each recharge lasting between 4 to 5-hours. Of course, reducing the volume on the AirPods will increase its usage time.

Do AirPods lose battery when not in case? Yes, they do. Their Bluetooth is always ‘on’ when not in the case. This means they will always search for a device to connect to.

To avoid unnecessary battery drain, put the AirPods in their case when not in use. This ensures the AirPods will stay charged and safe.

Why isn’t the AirPod case Battery Lasting Long?

If the battery in your AirPods case isn’t lasting long then it’s deteriorating. This will eventually happen with the AirPods and the case.

They have lithium-ion batteries which have a lifespan of 2-years. After that, the battery will begin deteriorating.

You’ll notice the battery dying faster or not holding a charge very long. This is unfortunate but there’s nothing you can do.

The case was designed to preserve the battery for as long as possible. This is why overcharging your AirPods is impossible.

The case will slow down the current when the battery reaches about 97 to 98-percent. When the battery reaches 100-percent, the case cuts all current.

This applies to charging the case and the AirPods, and it protects their batteries.

How does this preserve the battery? Rechargeable batteries shouldn’t have too many fast charges too often. This will lead to faster deterioration.

You might want to avoid charging the case more than once a day. Or at least, only do so on rare occasions.

Can You Charge an AirPod Case that has a Case Cover?

AirPod case covers are self-explanatory: they’re covers for your AirPod case. They can be cool, cute, fierce, or bold. They protect the case and AirPods from damage.

It’s common for users to match their case cover to a custom phone case. It’s a great way to accessorize, but are there any downsides?

Can the case cover interfere with the AirPod cases’ charging? No, it shouldn’t cause any problems.

They are compatible with both wireless and wired charging. And let’s not forget that they’re shock-absorbant too.

So, if your AirPod case isn’t charging, the cover isn’t the problem.

Why is the AirPods Case not Charging?

Deterioration isn’t the only reason your case might not be charging. There are a few common problems that might cause this. Luckily, these issues are easy to fix.

The reason why your AirPods case isn’t charging:

There could be an obstruction in the charging port (if using wired charging).
The power source could be damaged.
They might need an update.

Here’s how to fix these issues:

Clean the charging port, but be careful not to damage it.
Check all the cables for your power source. Replace it if necessary.
Check if your AirPods have their latest update. You can find this information in your AirPods’ Bluetooth menu on your device.

If none of these solutions work, try a factory reset. Unpair your AirPods from all devices and then press the button on the case.

Hold the button until the light blinks amber. Release the button. You can repair your devices when the light flashes white.

If it’s still not charging then you’ll need to take it to the store.

How Long Will the AirPods Last with a Dead Case?

If there is no status light, the case is completely dead. Connect it to a power source and the amber light should come on.

The amber light always comes on immediately after charging begins. If this doesn’t happen then the battery has reached the end of its life.

If that happens, your only option is to replace it.

The usage time for AirPods varies depending on the model. Playing the AirPods at full volume will lower the usage time as well.

Using the AirPods at 50-percent volume will reduce the drain on the battery. With 1st and 2nd Gen AirPods, you should get around 5-hours of usage.

If you have 3rd Gen AirPods, you can get 6-hours of usage with the volume at 60-percent.

Can you charge the AirPods in a different case if yours breaks? Yes, you can. But, it needs to be a compatible case.

An incompatible case will cause charging and connection errors.

Final Note

An AirPod cases battery will last between 24 and 30-hours, depending on the model. Generation 3 cases last the longest.

A fully charged AirPod case can provide roughly 4 recharges for your AirPods.

Without the case, you get about 4 to 6-hours of usage with most AirPods. The AirPods Max is the exception – you’ll get 20-hours of usage with one charge.

If you notice that your case or the AirPods aren’t charging, try one of the solutions above.

Remember, when checking the case's battery status always leave the AirPods inside. The case doesn’t have any Bluetooth capabilities on its own.

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