Budget earbuds can be a steal… or a fire hazard.
A Reddit user got a nasty surprise when their BoAt Airdopes 141 earbuds exploded during charging. The melted mess looked so much like a burnt treat that people called it a “forbidden brownie.”
Long story short, the post quickly caught fire online.
From Charging to Charred in Two Hours
A Reddit user shared their experience in r/headphones, including an image of the destroyed earbuds that would make anyone wince.
It came with a simple caption.
The post quickly went viral. And, fellow Redditors chimed in with reactions that ranged from concerned to darkly humorous.
Many joked about “hot treble” and a new kind of “burn-in.” a reference to the belief that headphones improve sound quality over time.
Others couldn’t help but compare the charred remains to a “forbidden brownie” or a bread overloaded with Nutella.
But beneath the jokes, there was genuine worry.
The OP revealed that the explosion nearly damaged their laptop and desk. That’s not exactly something you want happening while you’re sleeping or away from home.
We still don’t know exactly what caused these earbuds to go up in flames.
But, it’s a pretty stark reminder that sometimes “burn-in” isn’t just an audiophile myth. It can be an actual safety hazard if something goes wrong with your gear.
What Went Wrong?
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in wireless earbuds, can overheat and explode quite easily. This can happen due to manufacturing defects, poor quality control, or charging issues that wouldn’t happen with better-designed products.
The tricky part? Budget TWS brands might not have the same rigorous quality control as the big names like Apple or Sony.
They might cut corners where they shouldn’t, especially when it comes to battery safety.
Common causes of battery failure include:
- Thermal runaway: A self-sustaining reaction where a battery overheats uncontrollably. It can be triggered by internal short circuits, overcharging, or physical damage.
- Faulty charging circuits: If an earbud’s charging system lacks a proper failsafe (like overvoltage protection), the battery can overheat, degrade prematurely, or even catch fire.
- Physical damage or poor battery quality: Low-quality or defective lithium-ion cells are more prone to swelling, leakage, or failure, especially when damaged physically.
What consumers need to know
Battery explosions might seem like rare, freak accidents you only hear about on social media. But. they can have serious consequences when they do happen.
The good news? A few simple habits can drastically reduce your risk.
- Stick with the charger that came in the box, or at least use one that’s properly certified.
- Do not leave your earbuds charging overnight or for super long periods. Most earbuds fully charge in 1-2 hours tops.
- Charge only on non-flammable surfaces (not on beds, couches, or paper).
- Monitor for warning signs like excessive heat, swelling, or sudden shutdowns. If these happen, it’s probably time to retire them before they retire you.
These rules apply whether you’ve got budget buds or splurged on premium gear. Even the big players have stumbled here.
BoAt’s Reputation & the Budget Earbud Dilemma
The melted earbuds saga brings up an interesting question for budget audio lovers: do cheaper TWS options inherently come with more risks?
Looking at BoAt specifically, the Indian brand has gained massive popularity by offering affordable earbuds. However, there’s more to the story than just price.
A Redditor shared a screenshot of the BoAt website listing “origin: China” for some items. This led to speculation that BoAt white-labels Chinese products (A.K.A. basically putting their name on someone else’s design).
Despite all this, the Airdopes 141 remains popular in the budget TWS category. However, recent reviews suggest they might be showing their age compared to newer options on the market.
Let’s be clear: one exploding pair doesn’t mean all BoAt products are ticking time bombs.
Every electronics manufacturer has had the occasional defect slip through quality control.
But this incident does remind us that there’s always some risk involved with any battery-powered device.
The bottom line? Be smart about how you handle and charge your electronics, regardless of brand or price point. After all, a burnt-out earbud is bad, but a house fire is worse.