Safety Report and Question AirPods 4

[u/intrope]

tl;dr: Today I had an incident of extremely loud static explosion with my AirPods 4 during normal use that has left me with pain in my ear and feeling scared to ever use them again.

My questions for you all after reading:

• Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?
• Does anyone have a guess or understanding as to what might have caused this?
• Should I be worried about serious ear damage?

I have AirPods 4 that I have used roughly daily for a while since buying them new directly from an Apple Store. I use them with my iPhone and two different Macbooks. I had them in and out like usual throughout the day. I joined a Zoom meeting on the Macbook and popped my AirPods in and BOOM. In my left airpod only there was an extremely loud static explosion (?) that was like a very quick succession of multiple muffled static booms all in one second. I jumped out of my chair and swatted the AirPod out of my ear purely reflexively. It happened very fast but I wonder too if there was a shocking sensation, or it just sounded like it. It truly was the loudest thing I think I have ever experienced.

I then (stupidly) tried putting them in again thinking at the time it was some weird fluke with the Zoom call, and it happened exactly the same again the moment I put it back in my ear. Swatted out again. The only other attendee on the call was not talking or making noise- it was not a transmitted noise at all. It almost reminded me of what it sounds like when someone blows or breathes into a very sensitive microphone but very loud.

I experienced dull pain, warmness in my ear, and slightly diminished hearing right away. The discomfort and diminished hearing are still present. I hope this is like a loud concert where the hearing bounces back quickly, but I am concerned about longer term hearing implications.

I contacted Apple and they quickly escalated to a specialist and the safety team. They offered a repair appointment and maybe replacement will be possible at that appointment. They said they have not heard of this happening (but of course I would not expect them to admit if they do). I am definitely never putting this exact pair back in my ears.

I fully reset the AirPods for now just in case I accidentally put them in before the appointment. Based on the questions Apple was asking, I also tried to reproduce the event after the reset - but only by simulating the AirPod in my ear by covering the two sensors with my finger. I could not reproduce using this method.

Curious to hear your thoughts - thanks.