From the way you’re treating your device to the brand you’re picking up, the answer of how long do earbuds last depends on so many factors. Probably you’re already an earbud user, or you’re wondering about getting yourself a new one; having knowledge on its overall lifespan is necessary. And this is what I’ll talk about today.
In this post, you’ll get familiar with the reasons why your earbuds aren’t working, including how long do they last and how you can prolong their overall lifespan.
Keep in mind, if you take better care of your headphones and get the right one that matches your devices, it’s 100% possible to keep them long-lasting!
How long should earbuds last? They usually last for up to 6 months or so, depending on which model you get yourself and how you’re treating your own earbuds.
Related: the longest lifespan of the earbuds
Contents
What Causes Earbuds to Stop Working?
Earbuds can stop working due to a lot of reasons. However, there are always some specific causes why they stop working in a proper way! We generally handle our earbuds in an inappropriate way that may result in not working.
So these are the following causes why do earphones stop working:
Hanging off the Cord
This is one of the common practices that most of us perform in our daily activities: hanging off the core of earbuds on the desk or an edge. By doing so, you’re bending the cord at an angle of 90 degrees and will result in putting extra stress onto that wire.
If the point of earbuds appears to be bent, they’ll ultimately break or may get pinched!
Running over Your Earbud’s Cord
Many earbuds are included with extra-long cords. If they get hanged to the ground, the chances of getting stepped on or stuck on a table and chair may increase.
And the result? You’ll have to do nothing but cast it away!
Being Very Careless about Your Earbuds!
Most of the time, you unplug your headphones from your laptop/pc violently. Thus, the sudden extreme tension on both the internal wires and connection points might become a real bummer. This will eventually damage the compounds by causing a malfunction.
Twisting the Cords
You may find numerous articles and videos about winding up the cords of your earbuds, for which they won’t end up with knots. All those tight loops, knots, and tangling put extra pressure on those interior wires and result in unexpected breakdowns.
But your goal should be to keep all the nooks and crannies as loose as possible to prevent earbuds from breaking.
Using Excessive Volume
As you know, every component of a headphone or earbud is much delicate and small. In this case, playing any music in the highest volume will result in the music-producing parts warping; there’s no surprise!
So if you’re used to hearing music in a loud sound, the possibility of getting annoying or buzzing sound will be increased within just a couple of days, even if you’re using high-end earbuds.
Moisture and Sweat Exposure
Water is undoubtedly the biggest enemy of non-waterproof electronic devices. It can ruin your smartphones, tabs, laptops, or even your tiny little earbuds.
Most of us have a habit of listening to music while doing exercises, and guess what? Sweat itself interferes that time with your earbuds while you’re jogging or working out.
So if you have a habit of listening to music during exercise, ensure to get any “work-put earbuds” or something that’s compatible with minimal sweat and moisture.
Transferring Earbuds without Any Cases
Getting knotted cord of earbuds is very obvious if you’re transporting them through your purse, backpack, or pocket instead of any specific cases. By doing such things, you’re just bending, twisting, and eventually damaging your loving devices!
Related: how to keep earbuds from falling out
How Long Do Earbuds Last?
If you want to know about the average lifetime of a set of earbuds, it’s necessary to consider several things, including the way you treat and the brand or model you’re using.
In general, the average earbud or headphone lifespan is up to 6 months or so, depending on how you’re using it daily. But if you take care of the earbuds you’re using, these may last up to years typically. In this case, you need to earn adequate knowledge on how to make earbuds last longer.
Related: Can earbuds explode
How to Maximize the Lifespan of the Earbuds
As you know, there are so many ways to damage or ruin your earbuds. But fortunately, there are some excellent ways available as well to prolong the life of the earbuds.
So here, I’ll give you some ideas on how to make headphones last longer; let’s get started:
Idea-1: Using Extra Cases and Observing the Cords
You have to believe that the interior cord is the most crucial piece within your earbuds or headphones. That’s why I’d suggest paying extra attention to the line to make sure it’s free from knots or such things.
A piece of the case will come in handy, which will assist you in transporting your earbuds pretty smoothly, and that too without ending up with any issues.
You should also know how to store headphones properly, maximizing the lifespan of the cords and overall components.
Idea-2: Keeping the Earbuds As Clean As Possible
Earwax and sweat are some of the main culprits behind a damaged earbud. That’s why keeping it clean is so important to increase the longevity of your device.
In that case, you can use a piece of soft tool, including cotton buds, fingers, or such things, to wipe the grime away. You may find a couple of tools online which are designed only to keep your earbuds spick-and-span!
Idea-3: Getting Extra Apps for Sound Optimization
By using additional apps, you’ll be capable of controlling the sounds in the best way possible, which will keep your earbuds away from vibration damages or such types of problems.
Idea-4: Using High-Quality Sound Sources
Always try to listen to your favorite track of high-quality sound, which will enable your headphones to last pretty longer than usual. Furthermore, it’ll allow the audio to sound even better as well. Poor sound quality may provide unnecessary stress through buzzing bass and result in unexpected damages.
Related: How to get water out of earbuds
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q’s):
- How long do apple earbuds last?
Answer: Although Apple Airpods are the industry-leading products around the current market, that doesn’t mean they’ll last for a lifetime. Based on a recent customers’ report, the 1st and 2nd generation apple earbuds can last up to 2 years of regular use.
- How long do Skullcandy earbuds last?
Answer: Skullcandy earbuds are another popular choice among people, especially for those who are looking for something stylish and durable earphones. Talking about the lifespan, they can last between 1-1.5 years or even more if you treat them nicely.
- What’s the reason behind breaking earbuds?
Answer: A pair of high-end earbuds may last for a more extended period, around 1 to 3 years normally. But if you’re inappropriately treating them, they’ll stop working within just a couple of days or months.
And there might be a number of reasons behind the unexpected breakdown of earbuds:
- You’ve bought a low-end model: It’s true that you can find affordable pair of earbuds without spending a fortune. However, most of the dirt-cheap models are designed not to stand against heavy usage. If you’re a regular user, you should highly avoid getting them.
- Probably you’ve got faulty earbuds: In case you notice that your headphones have broken too soon, it’s a sign that you perhaps have purchased a pair of defective earbuds.
- You’re misleading them: If you don’t love your devices and treat them so roughly, you’re just damaging them and ruining the overall components way too early.
Wrapping Things Up!
The write-up on how long do earbuds last contains all the essential information you’re looking for. Here, I’ve also shown you the average lifespan of Skullcandy earbuds, including how long do apple earpods last.
I’d always suggest loving your own devices, treating them in the right way, and most importantly, following everything about maximizing the lifespan of the earbuds from this post.
Graduated with a Bachelor of Audio Engineering and Sound Production. He has worked with a number of studios as a Recording Engineer, with over 10 years of servicing experience in both re-recording mixing and sound editing.
