A university student in China has sparked concern over the safety of wireless earbuds after claiming one of his Bluetooth earphones suddenly exploded inside his ear while he was watching videos late at night.
The incident occurred in Zhengzhou, Henan province, and quickly gained attention after the student shared his experience on social media.
According to the student, identified only as Sun, the accident happened at around 1am on June 10 while he was in his dormitory.
He said he was using his smartphone to watch videos with a wireless Bluetooth earbud when the device allegedly exploded without warning.
“There were no signs beforehand. The earbud wasn’t overheating and there were no unusual sounds,” he said.
Sun described hearing a loud bang followed by a mild ringing sensation and a burning feeling inside his ear.
The explosion was reportedly so loud that his roommates initially thought he had dropped his phone onto the floor.
Concerned about potential hearing damage, Sun sought medical treatment the following morning and underwent a detailed examination at a hospital.
Fortunately, doctors confirmed that his eardrum remained intact and that he had not suffered any permanent hearing loss.
He said the ringing in his ear has since disappeared, although he continues to experience a slight sensation of blockage.
According to Sun, the earbud had been purchased more than a year ago from a major e-commerce platform for about 70 yuan (approximately RM45).
He stressed that the product was not a cheap, unbranded device and was in fact a popular model that had reportedly sold millions of units online.
Sun added that he was not a heavy user and had never encountered any problems with the earphones during the year he had owned them.
Following the incident, he contacted the manufacturer, which requested that the damaged earbud be returned for technical analysis.
The company reportedly assured him that if the investigation confirms a product defect, it will cover the cost of his medical examination.
As his injuries were relatively minor, Sun said he does not intend to pursue further action and has chosen not to publicly disclose the brand involved.
The incident has reignited discussions on social media regarding the safety of wireless earbuds, with many users expressing concern about potential battery-related failures in devices worn directly inside the ear.
While reports of wireless earbud malfunctions remain relatively uncommon, the case has prompted renewed calls for consumers to exercise caution and ensure they purchase products from reputable manufacturers.
