How Long is the Battery Life on Bluetooth Headphones?

Wireless headsets are more convenient to use than normal headsets as you can move around and travel with these much more easily. As wireless headphones don’t have any cables, you don’t have to worry about their safety or tangles. However, when selecting any wireless gadget, you should make sure it offers a decent battery life. 

How long is the battery life on a standard Bluetooth headphone? Most Bluetooth earbuds can last for about 4-6 hours whereas Bluetooth headsets can last you 6-12 hours on a single charge. A good quality Bluetooth headset from a premium brand can last an average of 20-22 hours and even up to 30 hours if you switch off features like active noise cancellation (ANC).

How long does it take to charge Bluetooth headsets?

The charging time of different Bluetooth headsets will be different as it will depend on their battery capacity and charging technology (quick or rapid charge support). On average, it can take about 2-3 hours for Bluetooth headsets with larger battery capacity and no rapid charge support to charge completely. The latest wireless headphones can charge fully in about 1-2 hours or even less if it has a small capacity. Some devices can run for about 2-3 hours on a partial charge of 15-20 minutes. 

To know whether your device is fully charged, you can look at the led battery indicator. If the device is still getting charged, the led will glow red. Once it reaches max charge the led will turn green.

Do Bluetooth headphones drain battery while in standby mode?

Many people believe that wireless devices like Bluetooth headphones and earbuds drain the battery even if you keep them in standby mode. Other people believe that it is not true and keeping your wireless headset connected to your mobile will not drain the battery if you don’t play any songs. 

So, which is true? 

Your wireless headphones will consume battery in standby mode but the amount will be negligible. During standby mode, the wireless device is still connected to the host device and exchanging information. However, the power requirement for such usage is extremely low. That’s why the talk-time or listening-time of Bluetooth headsets are so drastically different from their standby time. 

If you ever forget about this information, just remember that if no battery was drained during standby mode, the battery of the device would last indefinitely and that is not the case. 

Other factors like the Bluetooth technology can affect the battery drain. For eg. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) a.k.a Bluetooth 4.0 consumes less energy than standard Bluetooth connection. Thus, if your device supports BLE, it will consume less power in standby mode.

Which Bluetooth Headphones have the longest battery time?

When selecting any wireless headphones, one of the most important specifications that you should look for is the battery life of the product. Without a good battery life, you won’t be able to use any wireless device for long and you have to keep on connecting it to a charger. 

Here is a list of Bluetooth headphones with the longest battery life:

1. Edifier W820BT Bluetooth Headphones – The Edifier W820BT Bluetooth Headphones is ideal for travelers as it has a battery life of up to 80 hours. The device supports Bluetooth v4.1 with CSR technology which enables it to deliver high-quality lossless audio more power efficiently.

2. DOQAUS 45 Hours Playtime Hi-Fi Stereo Foldable Headset – The DOQAUS 45 Hours Playtime Hi-Fi Stereo Foldable Headset has a massive 1000mAH battery that allows you to experience more than 45 hours of music playback in wireless mode. This product can be connected with two devices at the same time.

3. Tribit XFree Tune Bluetooth Headphones – The Tribit XFree Tune Bluetooth Headphones houses a 580 mAH battery that enables it to run continuously for up to 40 hours. It takes approximately 4 hours to charge the device fully from zero-charge. The dual 40mm soundstage drivers deliver Hi-Fi stereo sound so that you don’t just listen to music but enjoy it as well.

4. Avantree Audition 40 hr Wireless Wired Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones – The Avantree Audition 40 hr Wireless Wired Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones supports music playback of up to 40 hours on a single charge. The headset supports advanced Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC as well. The aptX certified Bluetooth transmitter delivers superior Hi-Fi sound which lets you enjoy deeper bass and clearer treble.

5. COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones – The COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones features a 600mAH battery. It delivers 30 hours of continuous music playback per charge. The advanced active noise reduction technology allows you to enjoy music in city traffic, airplane cabin noise, busy office, etc. 

Which Bluetooth Earbuds have the longest battery time?

Here is a list of Bluetooth earbuds with the longest battery life:

1. iTeknic Bluetooth Headphones – The iTeknic Bluetooth Headphones allow you to enjoy 24 hours of music playback with only 2 hours of charge. It supports advanced Bluetooth 5.0 and CVC 6.0 noise-canceling and features IPX7 waterproof technology. The 10mm dynamic drivers along with CSR chip and CVC noise cancellation allow you to enjoy HD stereo sound with rich bass.

2. Anker Soundbuds Curve Wireless Headphones – The Anker Soundbuds Curve Wireless Headphones can run for 18 hours continuously if you listen to it at 80% volume. With just 10 minutes of charge, it can run for 3 hours non-stop. The 10nm composite drivers with BASSUP technology offers thumping bass and rich sound that puts you in the workout mood.

3. Dudios Bluetooth Headphones Neckband – The Dudios Bluetooth Headphones Neckband features a 500 mAh battery that offers 16 hours of playtime (at 60% volume) with just 1.5 hours of charging time. The earbud has a secure fit and is comfortable to wear as well. The updated CSR8645 chipset delivers smooth treble and deep bass.

4. AHADU Bluetooth Headphones, AHBT-102 – The AHADU Bluetooth Headphones, AHBT-102 has a battery life of over 15 hours. It has a charging time of 1.2 hours and a standby time of 240 hours. These earbuds are ideal for workouts due to their secure fit and comfortable design.

5. AOMAIS Bluetooth Headphones – The AOMAIS Bluetooth Headphones has a battery life of 12 hours with a charging time of 1.5 hours. 10 mins of charge can provide it with enough power to run for 2 hours continuously. These earbuds can be connected with two devices simultaneously and work within a range of 30ft in open space and 10ft in a space filled with obstacles. 

Will the battery of a wireless headset eventually die after excessive use?

Almost all Bluetooth headsets have Lithium-ion (Li-ion) or Lithium-polymer (Li-po) batteries. These types of batteries are better than Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) batteries as these don’t suffer from the ‘memory’ effect, have lower self-discharge, and can withstand higher temperatures. However, Li-ion and Li-po batteries have a limited number of charge cycles just like NiCad batteries after which they can eventually die. 

When a battery completes a full charge/discharge cycle, it completes 1 charge cycle. After a certain number of charge cycles, the efficiency and performance of the battery will decline to a noticeable level. On average, Li-ion and Li-po batteries have a charge cycle of 500-1000. So, if you charge your device every day, the battery can last about 1.5-3 years. If you charge it less frequently, it may last longer.

If you use your Bluetooth headset excessively to the point where you have to charge it multiple times a day, you may damage the battery of the device sooner than expected. 

If you want to prolong the life of any Li-ion or Li-po battery, you should never fully discharge it before charging it again. As a rule of thumb, it is good to maintain a charge level of 40%-90% in your device and use it accordingly to keep a balance between maintaining the charge level and the number of charge cycles.

To ensure product longevity, you should always buy Bluetooth headphones with a long battery life.

Is it possible to replace dead batteries in Bluetooth headsets?

It is possible to replace dead batteries in your Bluetooth headset if it comes with replaceable batteries (AAA). If your headset has non-replaceable batteries, you cannot replace it manually. If the non-replaceable battery of your device dies within the warranty period, it is better to ask for a replacement than trying to tinker with it as it can void the warranty of the device. 

Top 5 most popular over-ear Bluetooth headphones

Name	Sony WH-1000XM3	Beats solo 3 wireless	Bose QuietComfort 35 II	Jabra Elite 85h	Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless
Battery Life	Up to 30 hours	Up to 40 hours	Up to 20 hours	Up to 36 hours	Up to 30 hours
The Good	Great sound quality Superb noise cancellation 10 min charge for 5 hrs music playback	Good bass 5 min charge for 3 hrs music playback Apple W1 chip	Clear and broad soundstage Good noise cancellation	Very good ANC performance Smart sound technology	Excellent sound quality Very comfortable Good build quality
The Bad	Fragile hinges	Bad build quality	Mediocre look Active EQ	Does not support high-end codecs	Large size

Top 5 most popular Bluetooth earbuds with charging case

Name	Sony WF-1000XM3	Jabra Elite 65t Earbuds	Apple airpods	Cambridge Audio Melomania 1	Sennheiser Momentum
Battery life	Up to 6 hours	Up to 5 hours	Up to 5 hours	Up to 9 hours	Up to 4 hours
Battery life including charging case	Up to 24 hours	Up to 15 hours	More than 24 hours	Up to 45 hours	Up to 12 hours
The Good	10 mins charge needed for 90 mins music playback Good noise cancellation	Ideal for gym and running  Comfortable to wear	15 mins charge needed for 3 hours music playback Wireless charging	Superb audio quality Value for money product	Excellent sound quality Premium look
The Bad	No volume control on the device	Similar models available which can cause confusion	Average audio quality	Lacks noise cancellation No physical control buttons	Costly Slightly bulky