There’s nothing worse than having the battery die on your headphones. For those of you who rely on headphones as much as I do, the thought of going through a few hours of the day without music or the ability to make hands-free calls can be disappointing. That’s why, when selecting headphones, battery life is often one of the most important features.
What affects headphone battery life?
When shopping for headphones, you’ll find the battery life is often stated in the list of features. With descriptions saying the battery life of a pair of headphones is ‘up to’ a certain time.
For example, some headphones have up to 30 hours of battery life, but that length can be affected by different factors including how much you turn up the volume, whether you stream music via Bluetooth, whether you use noise-cancelling, and how often you use the headphones. There are other factors that can also affect battery life including whether you’re using them in very cold or hot weather and how old your headphones are.
Over-ear headphones with reliable battery life
Most budget headphones average around 25 hours of battery life, but there are plenty of options that push into the 30-40 hour range. These models won’t break the bank, and all of the following headphones even have the added bonus of active noise cancellation modes.
JBL Live 460 and JBL Tune 760
If you’re looking for high-quality, lightweight, and comfortable headphones, look no further than the JBL Live 460 and JBL Tune 760. Both pairs are similar looking, but they have a few key differences. The JBL Tune 760 is an over-ear headphone, while the JBL Live 460 is on-ear. In terms of battery life, the JBL Live 460 has up to 50 hours of battery life if you use them without Bluetooth and noise-cancelling and 40 hours if you use them with those features turned on.
The JBL Tune 760 has a battery life of up to 40 hours if you use them without Bluetooth and noise-cancelling, and you get up to 25 hours if you use them with those features. One good thing to note is that both of these headphones offer a quick charge feature, so even if your battery runs out you can plug them in, charge for 10 to 15 minutes, and get up 2 hours of battery life for the JBL Tune 760 and 4 hours for the JBL Live 460.
Sony WH-CH-720N
For excellent mid-range headphones, look no further than the latest and greatest pair from Sony. The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are packed with the latest technological advancements, have the perfect amount of padding for comfort, and offer multi-Bluetooth connectivity so more than one device can connect.
Sony WH-CH720N headphones have up to 35 hours of battery life if you aren’t using noise-cancelling. They also have a quick charge feature so they won’t leave you without music. With only a 10-minute charge you can gain another hour of playback.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4
For a top-of-the-line headphone in both battery life and quality, it’s tough to beat a pair like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4. They feature up to 60 hours of battery after a 2-hour charge. On top of their amazing battery life, they have EQ customization and multiple presets to choose your sound via the Sennheiser Smart Control app.
Earbuds and Earphones with the best battery life
Earphones or ear buds won’t have the same battery life as their headphone companions, but there are still plenty of great options. The battery on a pair of quality earphones will last you around 8-9 hours, so they are perfect for any productive workday or multiple workout sessions.Â
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
While the initial battery life of 8 hours on the Jabra Elite 7 Pro may seem a bit low, it’s not when you combine it with the charging case that most devices like the come with. When you add in the charge stored by the case you move from an 8-hour battery life up to 30 hours. Charging can be done in your pocket anywhere you are, so you don’t have to worry about having to find somewhere to plug in and charge when your battery is low. Along with the battery life, the Jabra Elite 7 is well known for having excellent sound quality, in-app sound profiles, and fantastic noise cancellation.
Sennheiser SPORT and CX
The Sennheiser brand offers two outstanding earphones for different kinds of lifestyles. with the Sennheiser SPORT being a top pick for anyone who has an active lifestyle and wants to drown out their surroundings. While the Sennheiser CX is geared towards a more relaxed environment where its crystal clear calling capabilities will shine. Both these devices have up to 9 hours of battery life, which is above average for earphones.
Both Sennheiser earphones have excellent sound quality and user-friendly features. If you’re looking for an option with active noise cancellation you’re going to want to go with the Sennheiser Sport. The CX edition only has passive noise cancellation, although it makes up for this with its calling and microphone quality.
Sony WF-1000XM4
As one of the top earphones on the market, it’s expected that the Sony WF-1000XM4 will have fantastic sound quality and a lot of features to enhance your audio. These earphones have up to 8 hours of battery life, and while that’s not the highest on this list, the duration can be increased to about 27 when you include the charging case. They are perfect for work or casual use as they have enhanced call quality, and that’s a standout feature many other earphones don’t have.
How much battery life do you need?
In the end, when it comes to picking headphones based on battery life, your choice comes down to your personal lifestyle. I find my Jabra Elite 7 Pro earphones are more than enough to fit my needs in both features and battery life. Others may prefer the features of full-on-ear or over-ear headphones without worrying about needing to charge their device all the time.
For those that never want to worry about battery life again, there are also options like the new Urbanista Los Angeles Solar Headphones. They use state of the art solar powered technology that charges your device any time it’s exposed to sunlight. This eliminates the need to charge your device entirely when used under the right light conditions. You can find all of these headphones and more Best Buy.
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