Woman Suffers Permanent Hearing Loss After Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Explode

New Delhi: A woman in Turkey has reportedly suffered permanent hearing loss after a Samsung Galaxy Buds FE earbud exploded while in use. The incident was shared on Samsung’s Turkish community forum by her boyfriend, who had recently purchased the earbuds to pair with his Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

According to the post, the earbuds were fresh out of the box, with a 36% battery, and had not yet been charged. The boyfriend’s excitement quickly turned into a nightmare when his girlfriend borrowed the earbuds to try them out, and during use, one of the earbuds allegedly exploded inside her ear, causing irreversible hearing damage.

Service Center Response Sparks Frustration

The user recounted his experience at a Samsung service centre in Cemalpasa, Adana, where he brought the damaged earbuds for investigation. Initially, the staff appeared apologetic after examining the condition of the earbuds. However, after a two-day review, they concluded that the earbuds had "deformed" rather than exploded.

Despite the user's insistence that the earbuds had exploded while in use, the service centre offered only a replacement of the same model. He described the staff’s response as a "take it or leave it" offer, stating that he was free to pursue legal action if unsatisfied.

Samsung’s History with Product Explosions

This is not the first time Samsung has faced reports of product malfunctions leading to injuries. In 2016, the company recalled millions of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones after widespread reports of battery explosions due to overheating. The incident caused fires and injuries, leading to a global recall of the device.

Moreover, Samsung’s washing machines were also under scrutiny between 2015 and 2016, with several reports of top-loading models exploding due to excessive vibration caused by a design flaw. The company issued a recall to address safety concerns with the washing machines.