Two things decide how long your earbuds last: the playtime you get from each charge, and how well the battery holds up over months of use. A few simple habits help with both, and most of them take only seconds.
Get more playtime from each charge
- Turn off noise cancellation when you don't need it. ANC uses extra power. The realme Buds Air 3 listing shows the difference: up to 7 hours per charge with ANC off and 5.5 hours with ANC on, or 30 hours versus 22 hours including the case.
- Keep the volume moderate. Louder playback uses more power, and lower volume is kinder to your hearing too.
- Switch off extras you aren't using. Features such as spatial audio with head tracking need extra processing, so turn them off in the app when you don't need them.
- Put the earbuds back in the case. Many earbuds stay connected and keep using power when they are left out of the case.
- Keep the firmware up to date. Updates from the brand's app can include fixes and power-management improvements.
Use fast charging smartly
Many earbuds give hours of playback from a short top-up. The realme Buds Air 5, for example, lists 7 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. Keep the case charged as well, because it is the case that recharges the earbuds when you are on the move.
Protect the battery over the long term
- Avoid heat. Don't leave earbuds or the case in a parked car, on a dashboard, in direct sun or near a stove. Heat is one of the main things that wears lithium-ion batteries faster.
- Don't store them empty. If you won't use your earbuds for a few weeks, charge the case to around half and top it up every few months.
- Use good chargers. Use the supplied cable with a good-quality adapter, and stop using any cable that is frayed or damaged.
- Keep them dry. Wipe away sweat, and make sure the earbuds and contacts are dry before they go into the case to charge.
- Keep the contacts clean. Dirty contacts can stop an earbud charging fully, which looks like poor battery life.
Signs the battery is ageing
All lithium-ion batteries slowly hold less charge over time, so a gradual drop after long use is normal. A sudden large drop, one earbud dying much faster than the other, or charging that stops part-way are worth checking; start by cleaning the contacts and resetting the earbuds.
For safety, stop using and charging the earbuds or case straight away if either one swells, gets unusually hot or smells of burning, and contact us.
Battery figures on spec sheets are measured under specific conditions, so real-world playtime varies. How to Read Battery Life Claims on Earbuds and Watches explains why.
Quick answers
Is it bad to keep earbuds in the case all the time?
No, that is what the case is designed for. If you are putting them away for weeks, keep the case partly charged rather than completely empty.
Why does one earbud drain faster than the other?
On some models, one earbud does more work, for example handling calls or the connection to your phone. Using one earbud more often, or a dirty charging contact, can also cause a difference.
Does fast charging damage the battery?
Fast charging is built into the product, so using it as intended is fine. Heat does more harm, so avoid charging in hot places.
Read Product Care and Battery Safety for more tips, or explore wireless earbuds.
