iOS 14 adds optimized battery charging for AirPods

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AirPods on AirPower
Just one of the smaller improvements Apple didn't mention.
Photo: Apple

WWDC 2020 Apple’s brilliant battery-saving feature for iPhone, which recently made its way to Mac, is also coming to AirPods and AirPods Pro in iOS 14. It should help your beloved buds last a little longer in between replacements.

There are a ton of brilliant new features and improvements for iOS 14 that Apple didn’t get time to preview during its WWDC keynote on Monday. But with the first beta already out, we’re starting to discover them all.

One that will surely be welcomed by AirPods owners is a new feature that changes charging behavior to prolong battery health.

AirPods get optimized battery charging in iOS 14

Just like on iPhone, the new feature begins learning how you use your AirPods, then changes the way they charge to ensure they don’t sit at 100% for prolonged periods, which can degrade batteries faster.

So, if you typically take your AirPods off their charger at 8 a.m., they’ll sit at an 80% charge throughout the night, then top up to 100% soon before you wake up and are ready to start using them.

AirPods optimized charging in iOS 14
A small but important change.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

It’s a small change, but it’s nice to see Apple is taking steps to help make our pricey gadgets last even longer. One thing that’s not quite clear at the moment is if this applies to AirPods and their case, or just the latter.

What about Beats?

It’s also unclear if the feature extends to wireless Beats headphones (I don’t have any to test). Let us know down in the comments if you’re seeing it with devices like Powerbeats and Powerbeats Pro in iOS 14.

Strangely, optimized charging is still missing on iPad and Apple Watch.

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