Apple's AirPods are extremely popular for a few different reasons, one of which is how fast the earbuds can charge. The convenience of true wireless earbuds is that they can be quickly refueled by placing them in a charging case. Regarding AirPods & AirPods Pro, this is no different. While countless wireless earbuds are available these days, AirPods have managed to remain some of the most popular.

The experience of using AirPods is undeniably great, but none of that matters if it takes too long for the earbuds to charge in between use. Thankfully, the exact opposite is true. Apple says AirPods 2 deliver up to 3 hours of listening time after being in the charging case for 15 minutes. Apple also confirms that AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro offer about 1 hour of listening time after just 5 minutes of charging. Fast charge times are a must for any pair of wireless earbuds, and this is an area where Apple has delivered with every AirPods model to date.

Related: AirPods Pro 2 Vs. AirPods Pro: What's New With Apple's Best Earbuds?

Full Charge Times For AirPods & AirPods Pro

AirPods 3 in the MagSafe charging case

Getting a lot of battery life in just a few minutes of charging is great, but how long does it take to completely charge AirPods from 0 to 100 percent? While Apple doesn't have official numbers on its website, various reporting from real users paints a good picture of what to expect. In the case of AirPods 2, Music Critic reports that a full charge takes between 20 and 30 minutes. For some context, 15 minutes of charge time gets AirPods to over 50 percent of their total battery capacity.

In the case of AirPods Pro, it seems that full charge time takes a bit longer. Some users on the MacRumors Forums report that a full recharge can take up to 60 minutes, with AirPods Pro taking a long time to reach 100 percent after hitting the 98 percent marker. While there's no need to wait for AirPods to reach 100 percent battery before using them again, full charging time is noticeably slower than AirPods 2.

Apple hasn't made any official comment as to why this is, but it could be an attempt to preserve the battery inside AirPods Pro. Quickly recharging lithium-ion batteries over and over again isn't great for their long-term health, so by slowing charge speeds once AirPods Pro reach 90 percent and above, Apple is likely ensuring battery performance remains strong for as long as possible. There's not much data regarding AirPods 3 total charging time, though it's likely in line with AirPods Pro.

Regardless, the main takeaway from all of this is that AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro all have speedy charge times for most situations. The full charge times may not be the most impressive, but getting 3 hours of use in 15 minutes or 1 hour in 5 minutes is nothing to scoff at.

Do AirPods Come With A Charger?

AirPods Pro, a lightning to usb-c cable, and airpods are pictured with a blue and gray background

All AirPods charge inside an accompanying case, which comes in the box at purchase. There are a few case charging options, depending on which model users purchase and whether they’re open to shelling out a few extra dollars. First and second generation AirPods come packaged with a case that charges via a Lightning to USB-C cable, which is also included in the box. These AirPods owners can also choose to separately purchase a wireless charging case for $79.

Gen-3 AirPods come with either the Lightning charging case in the box, or the MagSafe Charging Case for an additional $10 at checkout. AirPods Pro, both generations, come with a MagSafe Charging case. Even the wireless cases can be charged by cable, though, if the user so wishes. As with the other models, a Lightning to USB-C cable comes in the box — but none come with a charging block for the wall.

What About The AirPods Max?

Airpods Max headphones battery

Apart from its wireless earbuds, Apple's AirPods lineup also includes a pair of over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max. Charging the AirPods Max is a bit different, since they don't come with a charging case and have a Lightning port that can be directly connected to a cable and power source for charging. According to Apple, a 5-minute charge allows the AirPods Max to deliver 1.5 hours of listening time. A full charge on the other hand will provide up to 20 hours of listening, with ANC and Spatial Audio enabled.

Unfortunately, several reports suggest that the AirPods Max don't feature fast charging. That means that whether you use Apple's outdated 5W iPhone adapter or the MacBook's powerful 96W charging brick, the time taken to charge the AirPods Max remains the same. According to a Medium post by Alexander Leiminer, the AirPods Max charge at about 3.2W per hour, with a full charge taking about 2 hours.

As it stands right now, Apple has three versions of AirPods to choose from. AirPods 2 cost just $129 and are the cheapest currently available. They instantly pair with the iPhone, seamlessly switch between Apple devices, and support 'Hey Siri' voice commands — all the core AirPods features users have come to expect. AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) are more expensive at $179 and $249, respectively, but they add additional features that make the listening experience that much better.

Source: Apple 1, 2, Music Critic, MacRumors Forums, Medium