How long can Airpods take to charge?

Apple Airpods have become hugely popular among gadget lovers and have become a standard for wireless headphones. Though they have to be charged always from time to time in order to keep them working.

So, you must have wondered, “How long do Airpods take to charge?”. We conducted a small experiment about this and in this blog post, we will provide the answers and explain all you need to know about charging Airpods. Read on.

How long do Airpods take to charge?

In order to provide an accurate answer, we tried to charge the different types of Airpods in their case with at least one full circle of charge. We measured the time for only one full charge for the different Airpods and obtained the results stated below:

How long do Airpods 1st generation take to charge?

The first generation AirPods took 30 minutes to 1 hour to charge, depending on the device’s age. The older Airpods charged more quickly than the newer ones.

How long do Airpods 2nd generation take to charge?

The Airpods 2nd generation took between 40 minutes to 1 hour to charge. Due to the increased capacity and its ability to last longer than Airpods 1st generation, the Airpods 2nd generation took slightly longer to charge.

How long do Airpods Pro and Airpods 3rd generation take to charge?

The Airpods Pro and Airpods 3rd generation took between 30 minutes to 1 hour to charge. The older the Airpods, the faster it took to charge them due to battery deterioration.

Airpods’ battery capacity is quite small and it doesn’t require much charge for them to get to full capacity.

How long does it take drained Airpods to charge in a fully drained case?

It takes the same amount of time (an average of 35 mins to 1 hour) as explained in the preceding paragraphs. This is due to the fact that once the Airpods are placed in their case and the case is plugged to the mains, the case directs all power to the Airpods. The case will begin to retain charges for itself once the AirPods have been fully charged.

For a drained Airpods case alone, in our experience, a completely dead Airpods case will take an average of about 1 hour 30 mins to 2 hours 30 mins to charge from 0% to full charge. This makes sense given that AirPods cases can hold approximately 3-4 full charges of the AirPods.

How long do Airpods fast charge in their case?

Fast charging refers to the ability of an electronics device to acquire charge in a fast way when compared with doing so in a conventional way. Airpods have this ability and with a little charge, they are capable of performing for a remarkably impressive time.

So, for the Airpods, the following should be expected according to Apple:

• You can use the Airpods for up to 3 hours of listening time or 2 hours of talk time if you charge your AirPods (1st and 2nd generations) for 15 minutes in their case.
• You can use the Airpods (3rd generation) or Airpods pro for up to 1 hour of listening time or 1 hour of talk time if you charge them for 5 minutes in their case.

The takeaway here is that, if you are in a hurry, you can use the fast charge feature of your Airpods to get them up and running in no time.

How long does a full Airpods charge last?

The time it takes for AirPods to fully charge varies depending on the model. According to Apple:

• On a single charge, the Airpods (1st and 2nd generations) can last up to 5 hours of audio or 3 hours of conversation time.
• On a single charge, the Airpods (3rd generation) can last up to 6 hours of audio or 4 hours of conversation time.
• On a single charge, the Airpods Pro can get up to 4.5 hours of audio or 3.5 hours of conversation time.

Please note that the Battery life of the Airpods is determined by a variety of factors, including the device’s configuration, the environment in which it is used, and how it is utilized.

How long do Airpods last on a 20% charge?

At 20% charge, the Airpods will have an average of 1 hour of listening time left. This is logical judging from the listening time provided by Apple when the Airpods are on a full charge as shown above.

However, this may vary according to how the Airpods are used and under what conditions. If the Airpods are used for making calls mostly, then the 20% charge might be exhausted in less than the 1 hour stated.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the battery life of Airpods is determined by how they are used and also the model of Airpod. Nevertheless, a 20% charge will get you an hour or thereabout of use depending on how you use your Airpods.

Is it OK to charge Airpods overnight?

Yes, it is safe and okay to charge Airpods overnight. Airpods cannot overcharge because of the way it was designed by Apple. When they are charged overnight and they reach 100% charge at any time, they will stop accepting charges even if they are still plugged in. This will prevent the Airpods from overcharging.

Before lithium-ion batteries and smart technology, people thought that plugging in a device overnight would cause it to charge too much.  With the advent of these, devices are now built in a way that they will stop charging when they reach 100%.

They even go further to accept trickle charges in order to maintain the battery level at 100% until they are unplugged from charging. Hence, it is safe and okay to leave your Airpods charging overnight. You do not have to worry about overcharging because it won’t happen.

How often should I charge my Airpods?

It is advisable to charge your Airpods as soon as the Airpods battery drop below 15%. This will help to ensure that the battery cycle is always fully optimized and will also prolong its lifespan.

How often you should charge your Airpods will also depend on how often you use them. If you use them frequently, then it is advisable to charge them at least once a day. However, if you do not use them often, then charging them once every two or three days should suffice.

Experience has shown that Airpods can retain above 80% of its capacity for 500 charge cycles up to around full charge. This should roughly cover about 2 years of use. After that, the battery of the Airpods begins to deteriorate. This should be put into account when charging your Airpods.

How to check your Airpods battery level

The battery level of your Airpods can be checked using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. The steps involved are quite easy and straightforward.

• Go to the Home screen of your iOS device.
• Locate the Control Center and open it by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen (for iPhone X and later models) or up from the bottom of the screen (for other iPhone models).
• On the Control Center, locate the Battery widget and tap on it.
• Your AirPods will now appear on the list of devices with their respective battery levels displayed.

Another way to check your Airpods battery level is to follow the steps outlined below:

• Connect the Airpods to your mobile device.
• Open the case of the Airpods while the Airpods are in it and take it close to your mobile device.
• Wait for a few seconds.
• A display will pop up showing the battery levels of your Airpods and case.

Frequently Asked Questions about Airpods charging

Q. Can I use my Airpods while they’re charging?

A. No, because AirPods charge by being placed in their case, this is not possible. You cannot use Airpods that are in a case.

Q. How long do Airpods last?

A. The average lifespan of an Airpod is 2-4 years with proper care and storage.

Q: What happens if I never charge my Airpods?

A: If you never charge your Airpods, eventually the battery will run out and the Airpods will no longer work.

Q: Can I overcharge my Airpods?

A. No, you cannot overcharge your Airpods. When the battery is full, the charging stops automatically.

Q. What is the difference between charging wirelessly or using the lightning USB cable?

A. Wireless charging is much slower than USB charging.

Q.  Can I use any wireless charger to charge my Airpods?

A. No, you need to use a compatible Qi-certified wireless charging mat and case to charge your Airpods.

Wrap up

In conclusion,  Airpods take an average of 30mins to 1 hour to charge from 0-100%. If you’re using a wireless charger, it might take a bit longer. If you’re in a hurry, you can always put your Airpods in the case and give them a quick charge for 15 minutes, which can give you up to 3 hours of listening time.

We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any other questions about your Airpods, feel free to leave a comment below.

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