Wireless bluetooth EAR BUDS recommendations

[Gadgetfreakloh]

I see.

If you are taking a short break, like going to the washroom or such, there is no need to place it back if you are going to use it again soon. But if your next usage is like a matter of hours, its better to put it back to the case.

Reason being earbuds lost charges even when its off.

There is a reason why manufacturers package any earbuds and case separately. Or when earbuds and case are packaged together, there is a sticker blocking the charging pins of the buds and case which u need to tear off before use.

Earbuds lost charge even when its inside the charging case after being fully charged. If earbuds and case are not in use for a pro-longed period of time (like weeks or months), earbuds will lost charge and the case will keep charging it back to full, deteriorating the battery of both earbuds and case.

By packaging them separately or blocking charging, earbuds will only lost one cycle and the charging case won't keep recharging them.

Bottomline:
If you are actively using, place them back in the case after use.
If you are not actively using for a long period of time, like weeks, then keep them separately.


Frankly speaking, the surefire assured way to turn off the earbuds (and make them remain off), is to put them back in the case after use. No need to worry abt how to turn off or on earbuds.

There is nothing we can do to prevent battery deteriorating eventually, but as long as its properly used and stored, it should last as long as it should be.

To add more information.

Store in case after use to charge and prevent misplacing the earbuds.

Li-ion battery are more on the expiry date rather than charge cycle. They have a best use date of within 2 years after manufacturing date.

After 2 years will retain 80% of its original charge. Charge cycle will have little effect on this.

So just use them and do not have to be really concerned about the charge cycles.

Enjoy your devices. If you really plan to use more than 2 years. Can consider doing battery replacement in the future.

I have a few tw coming to 3 years and still going good. I have also done battery replacement on a few of the tw just to prolong their life.

 

[Remless]

To add more information.

Store in case after use to charge and prevent misplacing the earbuds.

Li-ion battery are more on the expiry date rather than charge cycle. They have a best use date of within 2 years after manufacturing date.

After 2 years will retain 80% of its original charge. Charge cycle will have little effect on this.

So just use them and do not have to be really concerned about the charge cycles.

Enjoy your devices. If you really plan to use more than 2 years. Can consider doing battery replacement in the future.

I have a few tw coming to 3 years and still going good. I have also done battery replacement on a few of the tw just to prolong their life.

Yeah. Its not rare to see people selling one piece of earbuds + case in carousell. Or just the case. Fine examples of people who misplace their earbuds.

As for charging cycles, I tend to be on the Apple macbook gang who are particular with charging cycles. It have an impact and indicates how 'used' the battery is.

Which is why, its always advisable not to keep the buds and case together for prolonged periods of unuse.

Though I agree with your bottomline. Just enjoy the buds since there is nothing we can do to prevent battery deteriorating. Its a consumable.

As for battery replacements, its probably only available for high cost tws and of course, it won't be FOC. Tws costing less than $100 will probably not have this option. Just buy a new one since technology would have improve at that time with better performing buds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_cycle

 

[Gadgetfreakloh]

Yeah. Its not rare to see people selling one piece of earbuds + case in carousell. Or just the case. Fine examples of people who misplace their earbuds.

As for charging cycles, I tend to be on the Apple macbook gang who are particular with charging cycles. It have an impact and indicates how 'used' the battery is.

Which is why, its always advisable not to keep the buds and case together for prolonged periods of unuse.

Though I agree with your bottomline. Just enjoy the buds since there is nothing we can do to prevent battery deteriorating. Its a consumable.

As for battery replacements, its probably only available for high cost tws and of course, it won't be FOC. Tws costing less than $100 will probably not have this option. Just buy a new one since technology would have improve at that time with better performing buds.

I do battery replacement myself. Just have to tear down and buy the correct battery.

Look out for those tw with 2 years warranty. Those will be the best candidates for repair and replacement. One example is the B&O E8. Toward end of warranty, battery just nice degraded. They will normally replace a new set as they normally do not service them.

https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/lithium-ion-battery2.htm

No good to do full discharge. They prefer partial discharge.

Do not have to worry as all is controlled by the charging controller. Unless they are using subpar controller. Those sub par controller are the reason for bloated battery or overheating.

 

[Remless]

I do battery replacement myself. Just have to tear down and buy the correct battery.

Look out for those tw with 2 years warranty. Those will be the best candidates for repair and replacement. One example is the B&O E8. Toward end of warranty, battery just nice degraded. They will normally replace a new set as they normally do not service them.

Provided that we have the time and the know-how. Youtube/ifixit seems to have some video guides on some earpieces.

For me, I just buy, consume, replace with new one.

 

[Remless]

https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/lithium-ion-battery2.htm

No good to do full discharge. They prefer partial discharge.

Do not have to worry as all is controlled by the charging controller. Unless they are using subpar controller. Those sub par controller are the reason for bloated battery or overheating.

Yeah. But multiple partial discharges = 1 full discharge. When the buds are in the case for a very long period of time, multiple partial discharges will occur and the number of full discharges/recharges occuring is around the number of times the case is able to charge the buds to full.

There are also trains of thoughts saying batteries should not be charged to 100%. Charging to 70% is the most optimal.

Frankly speaking, the rules of battery maintenance is so troublesome and a lot of stuff like this cannot be conveniently controlled. Its not even worth the time paying attention to.

IMHO, just enjoy the buds and stick to 2 simple rules. Keep the buds back to the case after use, and store them separately if I am going to ignore them for weeks.

 

[Gadgetfreakloh]

Yeah. But multiple partial discharges = 1 full discharge. When the buds are in the case for a very long period of time, multiple partial discharges will occur and the number of full discharges/recharges occuring is around the number of times the case is able to charge the buds to full.

There are also trains of thoughts saying batteries should not be charges to 100%. Charging to 70% is the most optimal.

Frankly speaking, the rules of battery maintenance is so troublesome and a lot of stuff like this cannot be conveniently controlled. Its not even worth the time paying attention to.

IMHO, just enjoy the buds and stick to 2 simple rules. Keep the buds back to the case after use, and store them separately if I am going to ignore them for weeks.

For Li-ion. The charging controller will control everything. If the battery display 0% is actually 30% and full charge is 80% of the battery capacity. They are never fully discharged or fully charged. Their working range are from 30 to 80% of the capacity.

Like I mentioned. If the charging controller is sub par then it will breached the 30 to 80% parameter and caused damage to the battery.

For laymen just use normally and do not be worry about all these charging cycle. Battery will eventually degrade and there is nothing to prevent it.

 

[Remless]

For Li-ion. The charging controller will control everything. If the battery display 0% is actually 30% and full charge is 80% of the battery capacity. They are never fully discharged or fully charged. Their working range are from 30 to 80% of the capacity.

Like I mentioned. If the charging controller is sub par then it will breached the 30 to 80% parameter and caused damage to the battery.

For laymen just use normally and do not be worry about all these charging cycle. Battery will eventually degrade and there is nothing to prevent it.

That's the bottom line.

We won't know or can control the kind of charging controller that is being used either.

Just leave things as it is and enjoy. No use fretting on something we cannot prevent or control. Just stick to those 2 simple usage rules and we should have an enjoyable time with our tws.

And as for fully discharged, question Apple. They are the ones who claimed multiple discharges, even on separate instances, add up to a full 100% discharge and is counted as 1 cycle.

https://www.businessinsider.sg/the-best-way-to-charge-your-smartphone-2018-1?r=US&IR=T

These are some ideal rules, but I find them a major hassle, especially to maintain a charge level of 65%-75%. Its not even realistic in some cases.

 

[Gadgetfreakloh]

That's the bottom line.

We won't know or can control the kind of charging controller that is being used either.

Just leave things as it is and enjoy. No use fretting on something we cannot prevent or control. Just stick to those 2 simple usage rules and we should have an enjoyable time with our tws.

And as for fully discharged, question Apple. They are the ones who claimed multiple discharges, even on separate instances, add up to a full 100% discharge and is counted as 1 cycle.

https://www.businessinsider.sg/the-best-way-to-charge-your-smartphone-2018-1?r=US&IR=T

These are some ideal rules, but I find them a major hassle, especially to maintain a charge level of 65%-75%. Its not even realistic in some cases.

The article probably is referring to raw battery without controller. We can design the controller to stop discharge and charging at specific percentage. Those are the parameters. Apple give advise probably due to their early models has these parameters not optimised.

I take the article with a pinch of salt.

Like I mentioned. You can never fully discharge or charge the battery to it's full capacity due to the controller.

There is a balance to full battery capacity to its useful life and those are taken care by the circuit designer.

Agreed with Remless that just use as it is. Consumer are not all technically savvy.

 

[Remless]

The article probably is referring to raw battery without controller. We can design the controller to stop discharge and charging at specific percentage. Those are the parameters. Apple give advise probably due to their early models has these parameters not optimised.

I take the article with a pinch of salt.

Like I mentioned. You can never fully discharge or charge the battery to it's full capacity due to the controller.

There is a balance to full battery capacity to its useful life and those are taken care by the circuit designer.

I would disagree, as the article already indicate smartphones, unless they are using batteries without controllers in smartphones.

Bringing the topic back to tws, there is no way for us to know the kind of controllers used in tws. But I am not proposing to follow the ideal rules advised by the article. Its too much of a hassle for something as trivial as wireless earbuds.

But the 2 simple usage rules
- keep buds in case after use
- store buds and case separately for weeks of unuse.

is simple enough to observe and the 2nd one obviously can help in preventing damage to battery health.

As for the rest, its just for knowledge.

PS: Btw bro, after watching a few videos on earbuds teardown and battery replacement, my conclusion for myself is, I cannot do it. Lol. I don't think I have that skill level and sophistication.

 

[Gadgetfreakloh]

I would disagree, as the article already indicate smartphones, unless they are using batteries without controllers in smartphones.

Bringing the topic back to tws, there is no way for us to know the kind of controllers used in tws. But I am not proposing to follow the ideal rules advised by the article. Its too much of a hassle for something as trivial as wireless earbuds.

But the 2 simple usage rules
- keep buds in case after use
- store buds and case separately for weeks of unuse.

is simple enough to observe and the 2nd one obviously can help in preventing damage to battery health.

As for the rest, its just for knowledge.

You are right. I was surprised with that article after doing a detailed read. My bad.

That article is basically teaching us to do something that is not practical. Product with battery are not perfect and battery normally will be the first to wear out.

Those are rubbish advise.

That is the reason why I do not care and just charge ready for the next cycle use.

Eventually the battery will wear out and if the product is still useful. I will change the battery myself. If not just throw to recycle bin.

Yes tws battery replacement are not easy and the key is to open the case without damage. I do it under a microscope. Battery sourcing is also difficult and the varta battery is not commonly available here. Plus to get a fresh battery just out of factory is even more difficult.

 

[Remless]

You are right. I was surprised with that article after doing a detailed read. My bad.

That article is basically teaching us to do something that is not practical. Product with battery are not perfect and battery normally will be the first to wear out.

Those are rubbish advise.

That is the reason why I do not care and just charge ready for the next cycle use.

Eventually the battery will wear out and if the product is still useful. I will change the battery myself. If not just throw to recycle bin.

Lol. Its presenting the most ideal cases, but quite impractical.

How about the charging case battery? Is that replaceable also?

 

[Gadgetfreakloh]

Lol. Its presenting the most ideal cases, but quite impractical.

How about the charging case battery? Is that replaceable also?

Yes. That is way easier to replace than those in the tws. Anything with battery should be able to replace. However manufacturers will make it difficult for common folks to replace so that product cycle will be fast.

 

[Remless]

Yes. That is way easier to replace than those in the tws. Anything with battery should be able to replace. However manufacturers will make it difficult for common folks to replace so that product cycle will be fast.

I see. Thanks. You gave me an inspiration to teardown earbuds, which I had never done before.

I'll try to teardown my old earbuds and case to experiment out of curiosity when opportunity arises.

 

[davidwong]

Yes can confirm from my own experience and from this forum and another forum they QC not very good hence for my 2nd pair I bought from local seller

I just received my Fiil T1X about 8 days ago.Have only managed to get it to work 1 time.After charging in the case,I will leave it out of the charging case without switching it on till evening when I normally go for my run.Immediately on switching on, one of the buds will indicate 0%. This has happened 3 times already. The touch controls on the buds are intermittently hard to activate.Cannot hold & wait for the blue or red lights.Have to keep tapping your finger against the bud & hope it turns on. There is something definitely wrong with my set. I have written to the supplier but I fear the worst coz it's a China supplier & will probably not reply. I may have ended up wasting my money. But I agree for that 1 time i got it to work, the sound quality was really great for the price. Hope those who have it will not have issues with it. I am now contemplating getting the Jabra 75T with 2 yrs local warranty. It's ex but at least I'm assured of the local support.

 

[bedlamite]

Sub-$100 TWs are pretty much as disposable as they come. Just use until spoil then buy another pair lah lol. Many posters in this thread dabble in new sets every 2,3 months anyway.

 

[Remless]

Yes can confirm from my own experience and from this forum and another forum they QC not very good hence for my 2nd pair I bought from local seller

His encounter is more of usage pattern. He is able to recharge back the earbuds, just that one of them drains battery to zero when he leave them out of the case when he is not using. (which is not advisable to do so)

Your issue is more serious as your right earbuds cannot even charge. That means issue with the charging pins or the bud itself. Definitely a QC issue.

Sometimes buying electronics is really a heng/suay thing, especially from China.

Earlier there is a bro who bought Nuarl earbuds ($200+) locally also encounter problems. Worst is he went to exchange and still encounter problems with the new set. He cited the same, QC issue too.

 

[Remless]

Sub-$100 TWs are pretty much as disposable as they come. Just use until spoil then buy another pair lah lol. Many posters in this thread dabble in new sets every 2,3 months anyway.

Lol. That's why currently I have only sub-$100 tws and pretty much consider them as consumables. So far, I guess I am quite 'heng' as the ones I bought from taobao/lazada china sellers/shopee china sellers/aliexpress have no issues at all.

IMO, there is no best tws, only a tws that meets our needs and at the price we are willing to pay. For something as trivial as tws, there is only this much I am willing to pay now and I just buy, consume, replace with new one when they wear out.

 

[bedlamite]

Lol. That's why currently I have only sub-$100 tws and pretty much consider them as consumables. So far, I guess I am quite 'heng' as the ones I bought from taobao/lazada china sellers/shopee china sellers/aliexpress have no issues at all.

IMO, there is no best tws, only a tws that meets our needs and at the price we are willing to pay. For something as trivial as tws, there is only this much I am willing to pay now and I just buy, consume, replace with new one when they wear out.

TWS are the fastest moving market in audio now, I think. Every two weeks I see new sets on AliExpress, it's crazy. Conversely, that also means it's immature tech with some ways to go before challenging wired gear.

I thought the B&O E8s (1.0) were hot stuff when they first came out, fast forward a couple of years and the Haylou GT1 Pluses I recently picked up sound better, last longer, have no connectivity issues, AND cost like literally 10 times less. It's crazy, man.

Really does make you reluctant to get that new TWS when you know new tech is always around the corner. But then a sale happens, which brings it down to 40 bucks on Ali this week, and you go....aiyah fk it.

 

[kogregory]

Firstly, Thank you all for your replies. I guess I'm doing it wrongly.It's based on my 15yrs of handphone useage.My wife likes to charge her hp even at 50%.After a yr,batt can't even last 1 day.For me,I will always wait till 15% then charge.After 2yrs,I can still get 2 days usage per charge for my hp.So like what all of you recommended, just put the buds back into the case after each use.Today I put it into the case 3hrs before my run.Got 100% for both buds.After 1hr run,still had 82% each side so will put into the case tonight. Thanks again for all your help. Appreciate it.

 

[bedlamite]

Speaking of which...