iPhone 15 Pro Max won't connect to non-apple bluetooth earbuds (after 1st pairing)

Recently moved to iPhone 15 Pro Max from Google device. Have 2 pairs of wireless buds (non-apple), which I really like. Connected them to iPhone fine. Next day, it won't connect, it is already in the list of devices, but wont connect. Only way to connect is to tell the phone to "forget device" and connect it again as a new device. It is getting really irritating fast having to do it daily (sometime twice/day, since I have one pair at work and another at home). I hope there is a solution for this issue. I have restarted the phone, and updated to 17.3 and both has not solved this issue. Both the wireless buds are different manufacturers and I am having the same problem with both. I also have an Smartwatch (non apple) and Bluetooth weighing scale and they don't have any issues staying connected.