How Durable Are Apple Headphones? (Solved & Explained)

The longevity of a pair of headphones depends on the make, model, and quality. Most higher-end headphones are made from great materials and can last users years.

Cheaper headphone brands may only last a few months.

When it comes to Apple headphones, you can generally trust the newer models to be durable, high-quality, and last you a long time. Just make sure you are taking care of them properly. Check also our list of problems people have with Apple headphones.

Here’s How Durable Apple Headphones Are:

Apple Airpods, Airpods Pro, and Airpods Max are high-quality portable headphones. With over 24 hours of listening time as well as a durable charging case, these headphones can last years. However, battery degradation can start to show within two years of constant use.

How Long Do Apple Headphones Normally Last?

The Apple Headphones family consists of:

1. Apple Airpods
2. Airpods Pro
3. Airpods Max

Apple Airpods:

Apple Airpods and the iPhone 7 were released on December 16, 2016.

Airpods have a battery life of five hours and are available with a charging case that offers you 24 hours of battery life. Lightning can charge its original case, and its second case came with the Qi charging feature in 2019. 

Airpods have IR sensors that pause music if not plugged into the listeners’ ears. They are wireless earbud-style headphones that have dual accelerometers and microphones.

If your AirPods is of the 3rd generation and fully charged, you can get up to 20 hours of talk time and 30 hours of listening time. 

Airpods Pro:

Another member of the Apple headphones is the Airpods Pro. Released on October 30, 2019, it is an advanced alternative to Airpods.

It has enticing features such as a thinner design, active noise cancellation, IPX4 water resistance, adaptive EQ, and a new charging with Qi standard.

A single charge of the Airpods Pro offers you about 4 hours of talk time and 5 hours of listening time. Charging your Airpods Pro for 5 minutes in its case will offer you an hour of listening time and talk time. 

If you are an owner of the 2nd generation Airpods, having multiple charges in your case gives you more than 24 hours of listening time and 18 hours of talk time.

You can also get 5 hours of listening time or 3 hours of talk time on a single charge. 

Charging your Airpods for 15 minutes, in their case, will give you 3 hours of listening time and 2 hours of talk time. 

Airpods Max:

Lastly, Apple released the Airpods Max on December 15, 2020.

The Airpods Max are wireless Bluetooth over-ear headphones with incredible transparency mode, spatial audio, a Digital Crown and on-head detection, active noise cancellation, and two H1 chips. 

Airpods Max is quite pricey compared to headphones from competitors such as Bose and Sony and is listed at $549. 

Fortunately, the Airpods Max battery can last up to 20 hours. You can use it to watch movies, listen to music, and answer calls with spatial audio and Active Noise Cancellation enabled.

However, Apple recommends a reasonable volume level of 50 percent to ensure the battery life lasts longer. 

A five-minute charge offers you 90 minutes of listening time, and you can charge the headphones with the Lightning cable. If you want your Airpods Max to be fully charged, charging your headphones for two hours is a smart idea.

The headphones do not have a power button, but you can preserve their battery life by using different saving modes. If your AirPods Max is removed and not put into a Smart Case, the headphones will enter a “low power mode” after five minutes. 

If they are not touched for at least 72 hours, they go into an “ultra” low power mode that automatically turns off Bluetooth and Finds My Location features; this enhances the battery life of your headphones. 

Do the Wireless Earbuds Last Longer than the Wired Model?

Apple’s wired models tend to last longer than their wireless earbuds.

Most people prefer the wireless type for convenience and ease. However, the battery of the wireless earbuds seems to be the first part of the device to have issues, and this limits the lifespan of the headphones significantly.

Each time you charge your Airpods, its batteries lose a certain capacity, and it takes time to display the irreversible decline in the battery life. The Airpods have a Varta CoinPower lithium-ion coin cell that can retain over 80% of its original capacity after 500 or more charge cycles.

Wireless earbuds and headphones cannot function without charged batteries, but wired earbuds can work.

You cannot replace these batteries, and this offers wired earbuds/headphones a fair advantage over wireless earbuds.

Wired earbuds will work for a longer period if you take good care of them. Battery failure has been identified as one of the major reasons why wireless headphones do not last long.

Do They Last as Long as Other Headphone Brands?

Wireless headphones need to be charged before they can function.

Apple Airpods are pairs that have a reputation for durability and long life.

You can enjoy up to 24 hours of run-time per charge.

The buds have five hours of battery life, but you can get the extra battery life through multiple charges with your case.

If we compare the Airpods to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, the Apple Airpods still have a fair advantage over its competitor as Bose can only offer 18 hours of run time.  

What Typically Breaks First on Apple Headphones?

Apple headphones are made with non-flexible materials that make them vulnerable to break easily.

Therefore, most people have complained about the cables as the first to break on the Apple headphones. Wired headphones and charging cables are not as sturdy as users would like them to be.

The Lightning cords are also fragile as they tend to bend over time. 

How Long is the Warranty on Apple Headphones?

The Apple Limited Warranty covers Apple-brand accessories and Airpods against manufacturing issues for 1 year from the date of purchase.

It does not cover damage caused by accidents or unauthorized modifications on the buyers’ part. 

What Exactly Does the Warranty Cover? 

Apple’s warranty covers your iPhone and Apple-brand accessories against manufacturing defects for a year.

The service contract does not cover every accident. It states in its warranty that Apple: “will not be held responsible for direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any breach of warranty or condition or under any other legal theory.”

It does not cover accidents, abuse, misuse, flood, fire, earthquake, or other external causes. It does not cover you if you use it with non-Apple products. 

If your Apple device is upgraded by an expert who is not a representative of the Apple Company or authorized service provider, you will not be covered. The Apple warranty will not cover you if you use a part to modify your device without the written consent of Apple. 

Do Apple Headphones Need Maintenance From The Owner?

Irrespective of the amount of money used to purchase your headphones, you need to take considerable time to maintain them so they can last for a longer time. 

Here are some of the useful tips to maintain your headphones:

Brush the Driver Units:

Brush the earwax or debris off the driver unit of your headphones lightly.

The presence of grease, debris, and earwax can stiffen the driver units of your headphones and may cause malfunctioning of the earbuds. Use a soft brush to clean the area once every week.

Use Headphone Cases:

Headphone cases are available in different sizes, and it is critical to choose the most suitable case for your headphones.

Finding the perfect headphone case is worth the effort as cases too small for your headphones can damage their wires, pads, and drivers.

Be Gentle with Cables:

One of the ways to maintain your headphones is to ensure you pull the plug and avoid pulling the cable.

It is crucial to note that the connection between the plug and the wire is delicate and can determine the lifespan of your headphones.

When you pull the wire carelessly, it can cause damage to the headphones.  

Avoid leaving your headphones plugged in when not in use. It weakens the internal springs of your jack. 

Keep Moisture Away:

Moisture is one of the enemies of electronics.

Moisture can cause irreparable damage to the outer layer of your headphones if proper care is not taken. Ensure you place Silica gel desiccant around your headphones for proper moisture absorption.  

Clean Headphones:

Wipe your headphones after each use. Your headphones are vulnerable to moisture, sweat, and dust.

Cleaning your ear pads with a soft cloth soaked with hand sanitizer or alcohol is hygienic and prevents you from having an ear infection. 

Apple headphones are renowned for durability and still possess their flaws, but their quality is top-notch. If you are not considering the pricey nature of the headphones and you can handle them with care, Apple headphones are great devices to own.

Sources:

Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty