You know, I have been using AirPods for a while now, and I really love how sleek they look and how easy they are to pair, especially if you are in the Apple ecosystem.
One day, my mother asked for my AirPods to pair with her Android phone. Everything went well until she couldn’t see the battery levels anywhere.
Don’t be startled, you do see your AirPods battery on newer Android phones, but you still won’t see the AirPod case’s battery on your Android phone.
So I started looking for a way around it and found some free apps that let you check the battery of the case on any Android device.
Why Can’t You See the AirPods Battery on Android?
When you pair AirPods with an iPhone, you get this really smooth pop-up that shows the battery levels for each earbud and the charging case. It is super convenient because it’s built right into iOS.
But with Android, it’s a different story. Android phones do not have that feature built in for older models. That is why your phone can’t show you the battery levels on its own. Newer Android phone, however, can still show you the battery level of the earbuds, but not for the case.
That’s where third-party apps come into play. They fill in the gap and let you see the battery status on your Android device.
How to Check AirPods Battery on Android: Use a Third-Party App
To see your AirPods battery percentage on Android, you are going to need a third-party app that can actually read and show the Bluetooth battery data.
Here are three of the best ones. I have come across:
AirBattery: It’s very simple, reliable, and works with most AirPods models.
CAPod: This one is open-source, comes with a handy widget, and gives detailed battery info.
MaterialPods: This app has a clean UI, supports dark mode, and offers various themes.
They all pretty much do the same thing, but for this guide, we will focus on MaterialPods.
Why Use MaterialPods?
MaterialPods really brings a smooth, android-native experience for AirPods users. Here is what makes it stand out:
Modern Material UI: It has a clean design that feels right at home on Android 12 and newer.
Battery Pop-Ups: It automatically shows battery levels whenever you open your AirPods case.
In-Ear Detection Support: You get pop-ups when you put the earbuds in your ears (if your model supports it).
Customizable UI: You can pick colors, themes, pop-up styles, and even different icon sets.
Persistent Notifications: It keeps the battery status visible in your notification bar.
Supports Multiple Models: Works with AirPods 1st/2nd Gen, Pro, Pro 2, Max, and even a bunch of Beats products.
How to Use MaterialPods
- Pair Your AirPods With Android
- Open your AirPods case.
- Go to Bluetooth Settings on your Android device.
- Select your AirPods from the list and connect.
- Download MaterialPods
- Search for MaterialPods on the Google Play Store.
- Install the app (the free version is usually sufficient for battery display).
- Set Up The App
- Open MaterialPods.
- Grant the following permissions when prompted:
- Notification Access (for pop-ups).
- Overlay Permission (to show battery Windows on top of apps).
- Choose your AirPods model from the list.
- Customize the UI (colors, pop-up size, animation, style, etc.).
- Check Your Battery
- Open your AirPods case or insert an earbud.
- You will see a pop-up with battery levels for each earbud and the case, if supported.
- Optionally, enable a persistent battery notification in settings for quick glances.
Pro Tips for The Best Experience
For the best experience, I suggest:
- Disable Battery Optimization for MaterialPods:
- Go to Settings
- Scroll down and tap on Battery.
- Then click on Battery Optimization.
- Find MaterialPods, and set it to “Don’t Optimize”.
- Allow Background Activity, so it stays responsive.
- Use Dark Mode or change UI colors to match your theme.
What Works And What Doesn’t
Works perfectly:
- Real-time battery pop-ups.
- Accurate display of individual earbuds.
- Sleek and responsive UI.
- In-ear detection (model-dependent).
- Works across Android versions and phone brands.
Limitations:
- No Siri or Apple-exclusive features.
- Battery data may not be 100% accurate for the case level on older AirPods.
- No firmware updates via Android (still need iPhone for that).
Wrap Up
Still guessing your AirPods battery on Android? That’s so last year. With third-party apps, your AirPods finally get the VIP treatment they deserve, even if you are rocking an Android.
Just don’t forget to turn off battery optimization; otherwise, your AirPods might ghost. you when you least expected. Go ahead, give it a whirl and enjoy that sweet, sweet piece of mind.
