![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Then again, with the progression of technology, many people have grown accustomed to the obsolescence of their gear. When you realize that the $200 earbuds you love may last you only three years with daily use, it can feel like a punch to the gut. I’ve known people who have owned traditional wired headphones for a decade or more, provided they did some mild maintenance now and again. This information may come as a shock to folks who are accustomed to the lifespan of wired headphones. But it’s only a matter of time before the technology grim reaper comes calling. So the same pair of headphones that craps out on one person after two years might last another person closer to four years. As Mark explained to us, a lot of factors can impact battery life-including how often you use your earbuds, how frequently you charge them and leave them plugged in, how often you expose them to extreme temperatures, and how often you take calls or use active noise cancellation (both of which draw a high amount of power). How long should you expect your earbuds’ batteries to last? It depends. The small size of true wireless earbuds may be great for comfort and convenience, but it doesn’t leave much room for a battery-and the smaller the battery, the shorter its lifespan. Replaceable battery compartments require more earbud real estate, and in a competitive field where tiny is currently king, companies don’t want to risk their earbuds being flops by making them bigger. Designers need to cram a Bluetooth chip and processor, an antenna, a battery, drivers, controls, and microphones into something that’s often the size of a thimble. Earbud buyers generally prefer more compact devices, but that means the earbuds have less room inside for all the necessary components. The reason earbud companies use non-replaceable rechargeable batteries is simple: It makes the earbuds smaller. Eventually they simply won’t hold a charge at all, and in most cases you can’t just swap out the battery-it’s glued in, and getting to it effectively destroys whatever parts you might hope to salvage. But over a few years, you may find that your wireless earbuds, which played music for five hours per charge when you first got them, now provide you with only an hour of play time. At first, the effect is barely noticeable. ![]() Wirecutter senior editor and powering expert Mark Smirniotis wrote an explanation of this phenomenon, and the short version is this: Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. This aging process increases electrical resistance and results in a gradual reduction in the amount of juice the batteries have available every time you fully charge them. Batteries lose capacity over time due to a layer of crystalline buildup that slowly coats the battery’s inside walls. All rechargeable batteries eventually die. This isn’t due to an evil corporate plot. The hard truth about rechargeable batteriesĮven if your Bluetooth earbuds don’t physically break, their batteries will eventually lose their ability to charge. But here’s the awful truth: In a few years, nearly every one of those millions of pairs of earbuds will be in a landfill. For most people, the first time you try them, you instantly love how freeing they feel. It’s no surprise: Advances in technology have made true wireless earbuds smaller, lighter, and more affordable. According to a report by Futuresource Consulting, true wireless earbuds are expected to account for two-thirds of the earbuds market by 2023. And that sales number is expected to grow. In the third quarter of 2019 alone, 33 million true wireless earbuds, the style with no connecting cable between the earbuds (think AirPods), were sold. But as much as I love them, something has been gnawing at my conscience lately: Is there a hidden dark side to my favorite earbuds? My headphones provide me with motivation when I’m working out, help me focus at work, give me information when I’m commuting, and help me relax before bed. Putting them on is akin to slipping into my favorite sweatpants-I instantly feel comforted and insulated from the outside world. ![]()
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