Airpods Gen 1 Firmware 6.8.8 Airpods Always Disconnecting on All Devices (discussions.apple.com)

Out of nowhere this started happening to me as well. Seems to be that a firmware update 6.8.8 broke connection on left airpod on Airpods Generation 1. Apple is doing nothing about it. It's been almost a year so far.

Same issue for me. Disconnects during calls, microphone problems. I don't know when this update was pushed, but it started for me in September.