Bluetooth Headset Battery Life

A Bluetooth headset will come with two measurements to indicate its battery life. The first measurement is "talk time" and is given in hours. The second measurement is "standby time" and is given in days. Both of these are times given by the manufacturer and the experience of the user may reflect different times.

Talk Time

The "talk time" is just what it sounds like. It's the manufacturer's estimate of how long the battery will last if you are continuously talking on your Bluetooth headset. This rating tends to be fairly accurate, but there are a few variables that can affect the average.

The first variable is how loud you want the volume to be. The louder the volume, the more drain on the battery. The more drain on the battery, the lower the talk time. So, for instance, you may choose a Bluetooth headset that is rated for 7 hours of talk time only to find out that the highest volume level available is very satisfactory. Another Bluetooth headset might be rated for only 6 hours; but that could be in part because you're able to crank up the volume to a listenable level. and drain the battery a bit faster in the process.

The second variable is how long your phone conversations are. Just as your car gets better mileage on the highway than in the city, a Bluetooth headset may get slightly better talk time if your habit is to use it for a few long conversations rather than numerous short ones. Each time you turn the headset on or take it off standby in order to use it, you use a bit of battery power without actually being on the phone and talking at the moment.

Bluetooth headsets average about 5 hours of talk time. They can range from as little as 2 1/2 to as much as 9 or more.

Standby Time

Standby time occurs when you put your Bluetooth headset on standby mode. The headset isn't completely off. It's using enough power to monitor for incoming calls or to be used for an outgoing call without needing to warm up first. This time is measured in days because it really doesn't take a lot of battery power to stay in standby.

You can usually count on a Bluetooth headset to offer a standby time in days that is close to its talk time in hours. For example, a headset that offers 6 hours of talk time should also get about 6 days of standby time. This can vary depending on how much the headset shuts down during standby time.

Actual Standby Time

Actual standby time can vary significantly from what the manufacturer suggests. Standby time can vary from as little as 3 days to as much as 12. Manufacturer's will sometimes claim as much as 30 days' standby time, but tests indicate these claims don't measure up to the reality.

Size and Time

A smaller headset will have a smaller battery which will correspond to lower talk times and standby times. To get longer talk and standby times, you'll have to put up with something a little larger, and perhaps uncomfortably weighty, on your head.