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I have two Bluetooth speakers from the same brand. They both have a mic and a call answer button as well as media playback control.

When I connect to one of them I see the following icon in the status bar:

Bluetooth logo with battery

The other speaker when connected, shows the following in the status bar:

Headphones icon

  1. Why is a speaker represented by a headphones icon?

  2. Why do the icons differ?

  3. What are their respective meanings?

  4. Does the absence of a battery indicator mean that the speaker doesn't report battery status?

I am using iOS 10.3.3.

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  • What speaker is this? In the first one was it charging?
    – user310476
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 16:38
  • @DaniilManokhin It's the reseller's own brand: roxcore Aqua and roxcore Crossbeat, respectively. Yes, it was charging, but that detail makes no difference to the appearance of the icon.
    – Andreas
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 16:41

2 Answers 2

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Refer to the Apple Support document, Status icons and symbols on your iPhone:

The battery level of your paired Bluetooth device.

Your iPhone is paired with a wireless headset, headphones, or earbuds.

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  • Thank you. I didn't expect them to provide such a document. Do you happen to know why the icons differ? Are they using different Bluetooth profiles, or is the first one just used whenever the device reports remaining battery charge?
    – Andreas
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 17:03
  • @Andreas The only publicly available info is what's shared in the linked document. I suspect the battery icon is shown by iOS whenever the device reports remaining charge.
    – Nimesh Neema ♦
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 17:12
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The first one shows the battery level if reported.

The second one is showing that a wireless headset or speakers are connected.

Why is a speaker represented by an headphones icon?

That is the default icon for all audio connection.

Why do the icons differ?

The first one is when the devices battery level, when not reported it wont show.

What are their respective meanings?

The first tone is the device is charging. The second one that some speakers or a headset is connected.

Does the absence of a battery indicator mean that the speaker doesn't report battery status?

Yes. To view the battery while the device battery is not displayed, there is a battery widget available when swiping right on the first page of the Home Screen.

Apple recommend answer:

The icon is displayed if the device sends a signal to the iPhone to report the connection and battery status. That is something new for the iPhone. I agree with deggie that the icon is just a standard, they don't have different icons for different devices. It is just reporting the device connected and the battery status of the device.

(Source)

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  • Please see my reply to the question about charging in your comment
    – Andreas
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 17:00
  • @Andreas hmm.. are you sure the device is charging/maybe it was fully charged
    – user310476
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 17:01
  • The device always has a battery indicator when connected, regardless of whether it's charging or not. This has been its behavior since purchase several months ago, AFAIR.
    – Andreas
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 17:05
  • @Andreas if it is not showing then no charge is reported
    – user310476
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 17:09
  • @Andreas updated answer with an apple recommended quotation: discussions.apple.com/thread/…
    – user310476
    Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 18:41

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