How Long Do Wireless Headphones Last?

Do you know what was so great about old traditional wired headphones?

They can sure last some decades, the likes of Sony MDR7506 and Koss Porta Pro are a testimony to that.

I’m curious as to what is the reason behind their longevity; was it the excellent craftsmanship of both manufacturers?

That construction is sure remarkable; they are certainly well built, but I think the lack of technology is the real reason behind their immortality.

Things change with wireless headphones or say Bluetooth headphones since there is just too much technology and functions behind them, resulting in battery issues and headsets that are no longer usable.

So yes. “How Long Do Wireless Headphones Last?” is the topic of today’s article.

Without wasting time further let’s check out the longevity of those Bluetooth headphones.

Wireless Headphones Battery Life

Let’s touch down on wireless headphones first, then we move on to the true wireless earbuds.

Not just with headphones, but with most devices that have a battery life, the longevity depends on the battery size. However, there’s no denying that other factors play a role.

A pair of Bluetooth headphones from a third-party brand will offer you 7 to 13 hours of music playblack on average, whereas a pair of headphones from a well-known brand will last you 19 to 22 hours on average, and flagships from “big dogs” can go even farther, hitting boundaries of 30 to 33 hours music playback.

So yeah good a good bluetooth headphone will last you more than a knock-off Bluetooth headset.

Again, other factors and features have a significant impact on your battery.

On the other hand, when it comes to true wireless earbuds, or in-ear headphones, battery life changes.

For example, depending on the model, true wireless earbuds can last anywhere from 4 to 10 hours of music playback or more. However, because they come with a charging case, the battery life is significantly increased; some Bluetooth earbuds even reach 90 hours with the charging case.

Take a look at some of the wireless headphones listed below; they’re great overall performers with long battery stamina.

What is the charging time for Wireless Headphones?

Various Bluetooth headsets have different charging times because of their battery capacity and charging mechanism.

If the rapid charge is not included, which is a feature that helps with charging the headphones at a much faster rate, a wireless headphone is estimated to take 2-4 hours to fully charge.

However, if the rapid charge is included it will take much less than 1 hour or 2, some flagships even charge them in minutes.

If you were to stop the charging process in the middle, for 30 mins or 20 mins you can get around 2-4 hours of battery life.

Those are just average numbers based on my personal testing and research; as always, different headphones will play out differently, and other factors will also influence the outcome.

How to Prolong the Battery Life of Wireless Headphones

In the modern world, many people can’t leave the house without their headphones. They are slowly becoming a must-have device.

However, headphones will not live with us forever. Sooner or later they will get damaged.

No, this isn’t the result of some wicked corporate scheme. Rechargeable batteries all die eventually. Just physics things.

There are a few ways you can increase battery life. By following those tips, you will not only increase the battery life of your headphones but of your battery-related devices in general.

1. Turn Off Features That Affect Battery Life

Sometimes all we need is that good sound quality and not the rest of the features.

Modern wireless headphones tend to come with a lot of features, and those features most of the time require a battery to work. The most crucial one is the ANC feature, a built-in active noise cancellation technology that eliminates the ambient sound.

To isolate the background noises properly, the ANC draws power from the battery, which results in the battery weakening and draining faster.

Nevertheless, active noise cancellation remains a cutting-edge technology.

Another topic I’ll cover is Bluetooth audio codecs, but since these methods compress and decompress digital audio signals rather than consuming battery power, they won’t have any impact on battery life.

2. Turn Them On and Off Only When Needed

Yes, you should be careful with your headphones, but don’t go overboard by pointlessly turning them on and off.

Use your wireless headphones only when necessary, and always turn them off when not in use. This will assist to save the battery and extend its life.

3. Use Them Regularly

Use your headphones more often. You don’t have to use them every day, but don’t leave them sitting around for weeks.

The problem is that if you don’t use your Bluetooth headphones, the batteries will leak or degrade.

4. Never Charge Your Headphones Too Much

This is a tip that you should follow, not only with headphones but pretty much every device that has a battery.

You should immediately stop overcharging your devices if you have a habit of doing so. Overcharging your battery can damage the battery itself and harm your device.

When you leave a device or your headphones in this case, plugged in after it has reached full charge, the charger keeps providing power.

You’ve surely noticed how charging adapters get hot, which means they overheat, and heat is the worst enemy of a battery.

5. Keep the Volume Down

I know that you want the best audio quality possible, still, the volume being a bit lower will keep that good sound quality running for a longer time.

Volume is also a key factor when it comes to battery life. For obvious reasons, if you were to listen to high volumes it will consume more power.

I would suggest keeping the volume down when not necessary, but that’s not the only reason I am saying so.

Having your headphones on high volume can cause accidents due to not being aware of your surroundings and worse damaging your ears.

If you keep your headphones on high volume, your chances of developing hearing loss are high. More on this you can read the following article, on how to prevent hearing loss from headphones.

Final Words, Conclusion

I hope I was clear and helpful and finally, to summarize, a decent set of Bluetooth earbuds from a renowned manufacturer can last you years, if not decades.

There is no such thing as an “end of life” or similar for headphones. However, even if your Bluetooth headphones don’t break physically, their batteries will gradually lose their longevity.

After a few years, you may notice that your wireless headphones, which once provided 8 hours of music on a single charge, now only provide an hour of playtime or even worse.

If you use the methods I mentioned above, your Bluetooth headphones or your Bluetooth earbuds might accompany you longer. As a famous quote says,

“If you take care of things, they last”.

Further Reading

Shout out to my shower singers, start your concert with these water-resistant earbuds special for the shower. 

Did you break your headphones now you’re confused about what to do? You either recycle or throw the headphones away, find out in the article.

I can hear you say Nah I’m old style, I have wired headphones life and durability explained. 

Gaming sessions will be stunning with these headphones, visiting the page is a must so you can find these amazing gaming headphones for MOBA, Dota, and League.