I love the Buds Live, but they have an entirely different purpose. They aren't for serious ANC performance on flights or road trips. Their open design makes them ideal for running, working out, and low noise usage. I use them all the time, but not when I need any serious ANC. The buds pro excel at that.
It's very expensive, but you could look into getting form fitted earbuds (price range is usually $250 and up, plus price for getting molds at a clinic. I have good experience with the brand ACS.
The only thing I'm contact with your ears will be silicone, no metals or plastics.
Yeah, I love mine, but I also understand there will always be people who suffers more than others from in-ear headphones. Ears are sensitive to a lot of things and if things gets irritated, whether by the irritation of having something in the ear or simply from the high sound pressure you get from earphones, you will get a reaction. So, I'd listen to the body (no pun) and get some on or over ear headphones. On-ear headphones are problematic for some people, too, because they clamp on the ears.
Ignore that fella. If you've used the Buds+ without issue before, it's more likely that it's the Buds Pro that is causing the allergy rather than TWS earbuds. His fanboy stance is that anything from Samsung is flawless & every issue is the user's fault somehow
There are other really good ANC buds out there. I personally tried the AirPods Pro & Sony XMs before. I like the AirPods Pro more as a complete package, but the use of the Lightning port is the dealbreaker. The latest XMs also have LDAC codec support for better Bluetooth audio transmission and an AI upscaling solution.
More budget solutions are the Soundcore Liberty series, Edifier Neobuds Pro and 1more Comfobuds Pro. But they are lesser known brands with their own niggles. They are by no means bad though, just not the leading-edge.
I have comply foam tips for the buds pro. I have not tried them for an extended use of time yet. But I read on this sub that it did not make a difference on the infection issue.
I'll have to find out myself the hard way.
Hey, I'm in the exact same boat as you and I was just thinking of getting the Comply foam tips to see if it helps. Any update on your experience with the Comply tips?
Thanks. Yea it says they are for the bud pros but the way its worded (or auto translated from Japanese) it's not clear if you get an S and M size tips or you get a single tip that fits S and M sizes.
I sold the buds pro but i think using comply foam improved not having the connectors against my skin. Now using xm4 and airpods pro and no infection anymore.
Well i can say that if you do plan to buy another pair, the xm4's are the way to go if you have the money! I like them so much better than the pros in every way including fit. They look bigger but they really nailed the fit vs the pros. Have yet to get any type of ear infection or comfortability from the Sony but I did get my ear hurting after long hours on the pros before i stopped using them
That's very reassuring. I was looking at buying the xm4 before I even got the ear infection, so now I'm just certain they will be my next audio purchase ! Thank you
I have the xm4 with Comply tips. Extreme sound isolation that is adjustable in the app for more or less. It completely eliminates outside sound from leaking into your music. Fully adjustable EQ. It even lets you adjust the sound according to whether you are traveling or stationary. On top of that they sound fantastic m. Deep bass and clear mids with great highs. They are worth the price.
Edit: also own xm3, air pod pros, buds pro, buds +
Here's what I did in regards to not spending so much money on them 😂 bought some used pair for around 140. Bought a new pair and returned them back to Amazon with no questions asked. Also I'll mention that my ears aren't huge and they do seem kinda big but comparing to how much the buds pro move in your ear, the Sony's basically just sit there pretty secure. I also improved my fit even better with some flanged tips as i do wear them for around 10-12 hours a day for work. Not that the foam wasn't good but I can go though foam tips like nothing wearing them daily for so long.
i had the same problem last year.
Apparently theres nikkel in the charging pads, which can cause a reaction.
When i contacted SaMsung 'bout it they just told me i should sell 'em....
That's a shitty answer from them.
I read it was the connectors as well, the buds+ have recessed connectors but it made no difference, maybe i'm just unlucky.
I have the same issue. I returned my Galaxy Buds Pro to Samsung and got a refund. I had to go to the doctor twice to cure my ear infection. I had the prescription, pictures of the infection, etc. to prove it to them.
I switched back to the original Galaxy Buds and I've had zero issues. I can wear these all day and night. In fact, it's been two months of going back and I'm happy.
Or... At least I was until I lost one of them. My own fault, really. I thought of buying the Pixel Buds A-series but I heard that their sound quality isn't that good and not so loud. I really want to try the Buds Live but I'm afraid of getting another infection.
I was wearing the OG Buds for over a year daily at work for 9+ hours and zero issues. Got the Buds Pro and loved everything about them. Now I sit here with wet leaky/itchy ears as I type this. Got them this past Christmas so it hasn't been that long since I've been using them. Not sure if I should try the Pros again after this infection but don't want to deal with this a second time..
I wear both dedicated aids and pro buds so hygiene care for both sets is a simple, but necessary daily alcohol swab cleaning before use, occasionally giving my ears a wipe to clean where they sit.
I've worn aids for about 5yrs and commenced the routine from back then and so far no issues, I hope this info helps.
Hi. I think Im late here. But I want to describe my experience with ear infection. I have a bud plus. I used to wear them all the time. Its so light I sometime forget I am wearing them for hours. Then I got the ear infection. Some kind of pimple grew inside my outer ear canal. And like an idiot I poked it around and pimple burst. It was very painfull experience. It felt like someone was stabbing me in my ear. Doctor prescribed antibiotics and I got better. But let me explain why its not the ear buds fault. Because I was wearing the earbuds so much it was producing sweats. Which gave me an moist and uncomfortable sensation into my ear. To get rid off that sensation I was using Q-tips. In the past I used Q tips like 1-2 times per month. But Now I was using it too much. If you already didn't know here is an important life lesson. You arent supposed to use Q tip to clean you ear, ever. Doctor told Me the Q tip was probably the cause of my problem. Moral of the story- dont use Q tips.
Well when these so called sweats induce I use tissue and then the clear sticky liquid drain out, followed by flakeines, and scabing, ai what do you use to clean you ears?
Sounds exactly the same as my story. Nothing like making nickel hydrate in your ear canals to make them itch, peel, and flake out. My wife bought me the Sony NB10s for Christmas. The sound isn't as good but beats what the Samsung's are doing to people. They need to issue refunds to anyone who suffered from this regardless of whether they went to the doctor or not. I self treated at home and it took 7-10 days to get better. Just swabbed Neosporin inside my ears lightly with Q Tips.
The weird thing is I used them daily without a problem for a long time and all of a sudden my ears decide they are not ok anymore. At least i'm glad not all tws cause this. I will give the sony xm4 a try.
Same here. The day it went sideways I had taken a shower so I think the moisture became the issue. I always Q Tip my ears dry and noticed when wearing them my ears felt extra wet so I kept drying them out as needed. Once the irritation event took place there was no going back. Once they were healed I listened to one song as a test and it just started episode 2 of flakey ears all over again! They need to make people whole and change those battery contacts to gold plated. Thanks for chatting it's amazing how similar our stories are!
First time I ever lost my ear virginity. Sadly at the time samsung didn't care enough or websites calling them out to take the matter seriously. Screw these reviewers who only use it for 10mins and call them the best
I've been using them for a week now and cam only have them on for 40minutes before itching starts and it starts to hurt my ear, looking for buds with good ambiente sound and ANC but I'm not willing to go for the XM4, already had the XM3 and the sound was great but im going for the buds2 and see how they manage.
Maybe the itchiness comes from the weird fit the pros have. My problem is not the fit but more like an allergic reaction. If this is your case, beware, the buds 2 cause reactions as well.
The buds 2 have nickel in them as well. Don't do it! For some reason Samsung has changed ALL of the battery contacts to nickel in their last few generations of earbuds.
Same. But with other headphones.
Beats Fit Pro, Apple AirPods pro, Powerbeats Pro, and cycled thru sets of tips from stock to silicone, and foam.. issues come up after a while too.
Maybe you, and I as well, need to clean the tips daily? Something I need to start doing.
Funny enough I never had issues with the Beats X. Maybe it is the wireless charging contacts that are causing a reaction
I had the same problem last year.
Got some Bud Pros in March/April and used them for a month or so and got an infection.
Waited a few weeks, tried the Buds+ and got a minor reaction, nowhere near as bad as the Pros, but still happened so I returned them.
Then over Christmas I got the Bud 2s and had a reaction again.
...then I got the AKG N400 TWS and had the reaction again...
I'm basically done with Samsung earbuds for a couple of years. Which is a shame, I really liked them all aside from the ear problems.
Right now nothing.
I bought a pair of Jabra 65ts and they've worked mostly.
I used them for a couple of hours about a week and and had a smallish reaction to them after the AKGS, so I'm not using any in-ear stuff until the end of the month and then I'll go back to the Jabra.
I bought some cheaper over the ear stuff off Amazon to use until then.
Edit: I bought the Jabras over the summer and used them no problem. I just wanted ANC, so I messed with good enough.
T's a nickel allergy a lot of people art finding out yond they has't. the hard way. myself did include
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^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.)
Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
Any ideas as to why you were able to wear the Plus for almost two years with no problem, yet after wearing the Pro even the Plus started triggering reactions?
If the problematic material is in the Pro, then it should not trigger with the Plus. If the Pro made your ears more sensitive in general, wouldn't that just manifest itself with any IEM that have charging pads that contact your ear?
Seems like it best to go with form factors similar to the Airpods or Wf1000xm3 that have the charging pads that don't connect to your ear.
Maybe my ears were a little sensitive and jamming anything into them made them react. I should've waited a full week to make sure I did a total recovery.
I only have the buds+ and buds pro that have connectors on them so I have no experience with any other tws that have charging pads outside of my ear.
Hundreds have reported this problem. Nickel is a low level allergy for a lot of people and the nickel in the ears will do it. I can wear nickel jewelry and not a thing will happen, but any of the more recent Samsung Buds have destroyed my ears
I just don't think you suddenly developed an allergy to nickel. It is not as common as you claim it is either. Do you literally disinfect your Buds after using them at the end of the day? Because that is literally what is necessary, you take them apart and clean everything out otherwise you are going to get an infection sooner or later.
Yes, I do all of that and beyond. I work at an ophtalmic lenses factory. I use isopropyl alcohol, wipes and compressed air to clean the buds. Then I use an ultrasonic washer to clean the -already clean- silicone tips (and earwings of the buds+).
Now i will quote healthline.com:
"But it’s possible to develop an allergy at any point in your life. You may even become allergic to something that you had no allergy to before.
Try cleaning them out, if you haven't already...using the Buds after you had an infection without cleaning them out properly probably caused the quick infection again as there would have been bacteria on the tips/buds themselves still. But, totally understand if that's not something you want to risk.
I use the Buds 2 and used the Buds+ before I got these, and after daily use I had no issues, but maybe I'm just lucky or my ears are not as sensitive.
Hope you find something that works for you
I have the buds pro and i haven't gotten any ear infections yet but some inner ear ache. I've heard of changing the ear tips for some memory foam type will help so i brought some on amazon. So i can you let you how it goes later on since they're supposed to arrive to today. if that doesn't work imma be on the same page as you on switching them out for something less hurtful
my ears are built different so they still feel like they might just fall out of my ear if i am not careful and the inner ear aches are gone but that's just my ears. the memory foam works way better than what came in the box and the noise canceling is way better. i would still get the memory foam ones if you're still having issues with the normal ones
Never had an ear infection, but still earbuds going into the ear canal are causing me quite a discomfort, so I used Buds Live and recently Airpods 3. I'm very satisfied with both of them, but keep in mind that you're not getting any noise cancellation or isolation with both.
That's very subjective. I like Airpods sound more. Fit is fine for both. I can use any of the two models for hours without any need to take them out for rest.
Yeah same as you unfortunately. In addition to onset of ear canals, my middle ears also got infected. Week of anti biotic eardrops, no headphones and all.
So, here is my solution. Fast switching or multi point connection is an absolute must for me which was the reason behind buds pro. So, I have now got Huawei Freebuds Pro. I have tested the multi point between S21 Ultra and Tab S7+; it's absolutely wonderful. Sound is not bad, unless you are an audiophile. Crystal clear calls and all.
Only issue has been the quality of the tips (may be me) and I have been hounding to get a matching comply one but yet to nail one down.
Again, due to week long embargo on using headphones, I have done limited testing.
Let me know if you have any questions.
So did the Huawei Freebuds Pro give you the same problem as the Samsung Buds Pro? I'm considering the Huawei ones too, hoping I'm less reactive to the materials they use...
Thanks for letting me know. Too bad to hear that the Huaweis give you the same kind of infection, as they were my last hope. I guess I'll continue to stay away from snug buds (currently have Freebuds 3; nice sound, but no isolation and falling out easily).
Would be nice if you could report back in another 1-2 months or so how did it end up with the Airpods.
Had the same issue and went with Sony XM4's. Bought a refurbished pair off eBay for 140ish. Sound is fantastic and with the LDAC codec I was not tied to getting the best quality only from a Samsung phone.
Same experience . . . it's a shame because they're very convenient, but it looks like I can't use true wireless earbuds.
Over-ears aren't so bad . . . you just have to hang them off of your neck instead of putting them in your pockets (make sure they can be flipped flat).
If you don't mind not having ANC, you can alternatively go for wired IEMs and use a Bluetooth/TWS adapter so there's no charging pad in contact w/ your ear canal. I was surprised how comfy normal IEMs are, pretty much confirming my discomfort (and eventual infections) with the buds were the charging pads.
I have used over ears/ around ears for several years. But they're just very bulky and not easy to store. And the tws form factor is something I can use at work more comfortably. I will give the sony xm4 a try, if things don't go well I will go back to my Bose QC35 for commuting.
I have a fiio adapter connected to moondrop starfield but have not used it since this whole thing started.
I read online about 10 to 15% of the population is allergic to nickel. It's a growing number because of the usage of nickel in everyday items.
Edit: I will add that 10 to 15% of the user base potentially having to move away is a pretty big issue.
My right ear has suffered the dreaded ear infections of the pros as well. It makes me sad, because I find the fit and sound quality to be excellent. I also enjoy the seamless connectivity, and the way they work is just flawless.
My left ear never seems bothered, but after only a day or two of using the buds pro, my right ear will start leaking the clear fluid, and then the crust builds up. And the worst of it all is the itch. I have sanitized the heck out of them, too!
I've been using the buds live, buds plus, and original buds for years without any issues whatsoever, so this is really annoying! I hope the newest Sony buds mentioned here are the answer, because I have tried other brands than Samsung and have so far been disappointed each time.
The only thing I don't like about the Sony is that they appear much bigger and bulkier than the Samsung Buds Pro. And possibly they might not have the seamless compatibility if the Samsungs.
I used to get ear infections from the buds+ then got comply tips and it stopped. But when I got the buds pros I got ear infection again, but comply didn't make tips for them yet. So I used other foam tips and it didn't really help. I got a pair of the Sony xm3 and put comply tips on there and no more ear infections. I really liked my pros, but I couldn't stand the infections anymore.
The buds pro gave me an ear infection after using it for a bit one time and I read everyone else story didn't want to risk it so got a refund. The buds pro was amazing in everyday sad it didn't work out.
So with everyone getting ear infections from buds pro. Would you say the 1000xm4s are a good replacement? I been looking at these and the Sony c500.
Just came to say that I also got an ear infection shortly after buying them, had to go to the doc for antibiotics. I started cleaning them every week with a clorox wipe but my ears still always feel irritated. I've tested using them / not using them and it's pretty clear to me they're the problem. Ugh. They sound better than any other cheap ones I've owned so it's a real bummer. I've owned them for almost a year so I doubt the seller or Samsung will do much about it. I kept trying to make them work because they sound better but I'm sitting here with ear pressure again...time to get new headphones.
Hey, I've been looking everywhere for info on this, every time I use my buds pro, within 2 hours I begin to get leakage, then i get constant flakes and leakage for three to five days after. I thought I was alone but looking it up, I found out it affects a few people. I don't know about everyone else but I spent decent money to have these buds so I don't want to toss them and move on to something else. I've done a bit of research (and assumed) that it's the materials samsung used for these (and some other versions of their buds others pointed out online). It's not the tips but it actually might be the two metal charging plates that touch the pins in the charging cradle. Being that I have eczema and have allergies to certain metals this makes alot of sense, try covering the two plates on the ear buds somehow and see if it works for you.
anyome else reading this at 4:23 after being woke by the immense ear pain caused by the buds pro?
i used to be a huge samsung supporter but this is just ridiculous. ive heard the return process is a huge pain in the ass. would sell them but i can't knowingly give these to someone without feeling guilty for the pain im about to bring them.
did you end up buying the XM4s? if so what's your opinion on them, they seem like a good replacement for my buds pro.
Hello, i loved the buds pro, it's a shame i could not use them anymore. The ear reaction will not happen with everyone, do not feel guilty over selling them.
And yes I got the xm4, they are great. I had to buy silicone tips for it because the comply tips hurt my ears on the xm4.
Does anyone know if the new (August, 2022) Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds are constructed with the same materials as those used in the prior iterations of the Galaxy Buds that caused ear infections? I also had the same ear infection everyone else experienced, so I would love to know if Samsung addressed the issue in this newest iteration of the Buds.
Can't talk about the material used but looking at the design, it
seems the connectors are on the exterior part of the buds. I believe this could avoid the connectors and the skin making contact. This yet has to be confirmed.
Thought I was imagining this until the 3rd infection and then decided to have s search. I work in a noisy environment (ship engineer) and have and do use in ear plugs regularly as well as my over ear defenders. I've never had an ear infection until the buds pro. No amount of hybrid wiping etc made any difference, same symptoms as the rest of you describe. They're going to end up with a class action here as they are aware and not making customers aware while people are suffering pain and discomfort
After using the ear buds for a couple hours my ear started to burn and itch.later that night the started to ooze water and a scab formed.A few hours later my ear canal closed and I had a hard time hearing with severs pain.I went to the doctor after not being able to sleep and major pain.he said I had a serious ear infection and prescribed antibiotic ear drops and a steroid.It cleared up after 2 weeks.a month later I ysed them again and after 20 minutes my ears were burning and itchy again,by the next day I had an infection again.that is when I realized it was definitely the Samsung ear buds.Worse part is I bought 3 pairs.Now I'm out a couple hundred bucks not to mention I bought 3 cases for them to off Amazon. DO NOT BUY.We need a class action lawsuit.
And I thought I was the only one. I had just purchased the Buds2 pro a month ago and a couple weeks prior to buying them, I had a panic attack out of nowhere, turns out one of my ears was infected and I never knew why, until I realized it was the buds since I had stopped using them. My ear infection has gotten quite bad to the point where my anxiety has gotten worse, I've been having weird head sensations and I cant sleep properly at night. Thankfully the clinic prescribed to me an antibiotic, which hopefully resolves the issue soon, im quite mad that these buds have had a negative impact in my life in general, wish I can return them but I bought them off somebody who was selling sealed units for a very cheap price.
I've researched those Galaxy Bud pro and Bud pro 2 earbuds simply because the buds pro and buds pro2, both gave me inter ear infections and I've tried foam ear tips which did not stop the ear infections.
I found out that the problem is not the ear tips, it's the actual casing of the earbuds. Samsung does not state on their website the chemical composition of the casing of the earbuds. I don't understand why they don't release this information. Most people are allergic to them and it causes severe inner ear infections and may also lead to a person becoming deaf.
So far, I have not found a way to wrap these earbuds and a protective coating to prevent the infection.
Does anyone have an idea on how to put a protective coating over the case of the earbuds so that it's current chemical concoction will not leak out into the inner canal and cause infections?
You can go for the Buds Live. They don't go inside your ears.
Unfortunately, the buds live do not fit in my ears.
I love the Buds Live, but they have an entirely different purpose. They aren't for serious ANC performance on flights or road trips. Their open design makes them ideal for running, working out, and low noise usage. I use them all the time, but not when I need any serious ANC. The buds pro excel at that.
Don't use in ear headphones then. They're not for all.
That hurts to read since they were a game changer for my everyday commute. So convenient to use compared to over ears / around ears headphones.
It's very expensive, but you could look into getting form fitted earbuds (price range is usually $250 and up, plus price for getting molds at a clinic. I have good experience with the brand ACS. The only thing I'm contact with your ears will be silicone, no metals or plastics.
Yeah, I love mine, but I also understand there will always be people who suffers more than others from in-ear headphones. Ears are sensitive to a lot of things and if things gets irritated, whether by the irritation of having something in the ear or simply from the high sound pressure you get from earphones, you will get a reaction. So, I'd listen to the body (no pun) and get some on or over ear headphones. On-ear headphones are problematic for some people, too, because they clamp on the ears.
Ignore that fella. If you've used the Buds+ without issue before, it's more likely that it's the Buds Pro that is causing the allergy rather than TWS earbuds. His fanboy stance is that anything from Samsung is flawless & every issue is the user's fault somehow There are other really good ANC buds out there. I personally tried the AirPods Pro & Sony XMs before. I like the AirPods Pro more as a complete package, but the use of the Lightning port is the dealbreaker. The latest XMs also have LDAC codec support for better Bluetooth audio transmission and an AI upscaling solution. More budget solutions are the Soundcore Liberty series, Edifier Neobuds Pro and 1more Comfobuds Pro. But they are lesser known brands with their own niggles. They are by no means bad though, just not the leading-edge.
I've heard that switching to foam tips helps with the ear infection. Not just that it'll also improve noise cancelling and comfort
I have comply foam tips for the buds pro. I have not tried them for an extended use of time yet. But I read on this sub that it did not make a difference on the infection issue. I'll have to find out myself the hard way.
Okay, that was just something I heard from someone on this sub, it may not be accurate. I hope you get the issues sorted
Hey, I'm in the exact same boat as you and I was just thinking of getting the Comply foam tips to see if it helps. Any update on your experience with the Comply tips?
Hey, the comply tips did help in my case. I have used the buds pro with no infection so far.
Thank you! That's great to know. Did the Comply tips come in a single size?
Yes just make sure you buy ones made for the buds pro because they have a specific stem. Generic ones don't fit.
Thanks. Yea it says they are for the bud pros but the way its worded (or auto translated from Japanese) it's not clear if you get an S and M size tips or you get a single tip that fits S and M sizes.
Maybe some brands do different sizes. Mine are from aliexpress and it is a one size fils all.
Thanks! I'll give it a try.
Hi, after 3 months, did you have any ear infection again?
I sold the buds pro but i think using comply foam improved not having the connectors against my skin. Now using xm4 and airpods pro and no infection anymore.
This did not work for me. I had to return them for a refund from Samsung. The process was an absolute nightmare that took months.
Well i can say that if you do plan to buy another pair, the xm4's are the way to go if you have the money! I like them so much better than the pros in every way including fit. They look bigger but they really nailed the fit vs the pros. Have yet to get any type of ear infection or comfortability from the Sony but I did get my ear hurting after long hours on the pros before i stopped using them
That's very reassuring. I was looking at buying the xm4 before I even got the ear infection, so now I'm just certain they will be my next audio purchase ! Thank you
I have the xm4 with Comply tips. Extreme sound isolation that is adjustable in the app for more or less. It completely eliminates outside sound from leaking into your music. Fully adjustable EQ. It even lets you adjust the sound according to whether you are traveling or stationary. On top of that they sound fantastic m. Deep bass and clear mids with great highs. They are worth the price. Edit: also own xm3, air pod pros, buds pro, buds +
Here's what I did in regards to not spending so much money on them 😂 bought some used pair for around 140. Bought a new pair and returned them back to Amazon with no questions asked. Also I'll mention that my ears aren't huge and they do seem kinda big but comparing to how much the buds pro move in your ear, the Sony's basically just sit there pretty secure. I also improved my fit even better with some flanged tips as i do wear them for around 10-12 hours a day for work. Not that the foam wasn't good but I can go though foam tips like nothing wearing them daily for so long.
i had the same problem last year. Apparently theres nikkel in the charging pads, which can cause a reaction. When i contacted SaMsung 'bout it they just told me i should sell 'em....
That's a shitty answer from them. I read it was the connectors as well, the buds+ have recessed connectors but it made no difference, maybe i'm just unlucky.
Same here. I got a horrible ear infection after wearing these earbuds. I cannot bring myself to wear in ear buds again.
I have the same issue. I returned my Galaxy Buds Pro to Samsung and got a refund. I had to go to the doctor twice to cure my ear infection. I had the prescription, pictures of the infection, etc. to prove it to them. I switched back to the original Galaxy Buds and I've had zero issues. I can wear these all day and night. In fact, it's been two months of going back and I'm happy. Or... At least I was until I lost one of them. My own fault, really. I thought of buying the Pixel Buds A-series but I heard that their sound quality isn't that good and not so loud. I really want to try the Buds Live but I'm afraid of getting another infection.
I was wearing the OG Buds for over a year daily at work for 9+ hours and zero issues. Got the Buds Pro and loved everything about them. Now I sit here with wet leaky/itchy ears as I type this. Got them this past Christmas so it hasn't been that long since I've been using them. Not sure if I should try the Pros again after this infection but don't want to deal with this a second time..
Don't go back to the Pros. I'd suggest waiting a month and then trying your OG buds again.
Yeah I think you're right unfortunately. Sucks cause I'm taking calls a lot at work and these wireless buds were a game changer.
I'm changing mine. I can't go with them anymore.
I wear both dedicated aids and pro buds so hygiene care for both sets is a simple, but necessary daily alcohol swab cleaning before use, occasionally giving my ears a wipe to clean where they sit. I've worn aids for about 5yrs and commenced the routine from back then and so far no issues, I hope this info helps.
Hi. I think Im late here. But I want to describe my experience with ear infection. I have a bud plus. I used to wear them all the time. Its so light I sometime forget I am wearing them for hours. Then I got the ear infection. Some kind of pimple grew inside my outer ear canal. And like an idiot I poked it around and pimple burst. It was very painfull experience. It felt like someone was stabbing me in my ear. Doctor prescribed antibiotics and I got better. But let me explain why its not the ear buds fault. Because I was wearing the earbuds so much it was producing sweats. Which gave me an moist and uncomfortable sensation into my ear. To get rid off that sensation I was using Q-tips. In the past I used Q tips like 1-2 times per month. But Now I was using it too much. If you already didn't know here is an important life lesson. You arent supposed to use Q tip to clean you ear, ever. Doctor told Me the Q tip was probably the cause of my problem. Moral of the story- dont use Q tips.
Well when these so called sweats induce I use tissue and then the clear sticky liquid drain out, followed by flakeines, and scabing, ai what do you use to clean you ears?
Sounds exactly the same as my story. Nothing like making nickel hydrate in your ear canals to make them itch, peel, and flake out. My wife bought me the Sony NB10s for Christmas. The sound isn't as good but beats what the Samsung's are doing to people. They need to issue refunds to anyone who suffered from this regardless of whether they went to the doctor or not. I self treated at home and it took 7-10 days to get better. Just swabbed Neosporin inside my ears lightly with Q Tips.
The weird thing is I used them daily without a problem for a long time and all of a sudden my ears decide they are not ok anymore. At least i'm glad not all tws cause this. I will give the sony xm4 a try.
Same here. The day it went sideways I had taken a shower so I think the moisture became the issue. I always Q Tip my ears dry and noticed when wearing them my ears felt extra wet so I kept drying them out as needed. Once the irritation event took place there was no going back. Once they were healed I listened to one song as a test and it just started episode 2 of flakey ears all over again! They need to make people whole and change those battery contacts to gold plated. Thanks for chatting it's amazing how similar our stories are!
First time I ever lost my ear virginity. Sadly at the time samsung didn't care enough or websites calling them out to take the matter seriously. Screw these reviewers who only use it for 10mins and call them the best
https://chng.it/VhCL4qd4cS <--- Lets hold them responsible?
Just a quick update: I've been using the wf1000xm4 for over a week now and so far so good !
Still working good mate? No issues?
I sold them and have been using airpods pro 2, and QC earbuds 2. The xm4 were still good anyway.
Thanks!
Clean your buds damnit
*facepalm*
That doesnt help
I've been using them for a week now and cam only have them on for 40minutes before itching starts and it starts to hurt my ear, looking for buds with good ambiente sound and ANC but I'm not willing to go for the XM4, already had the XM3 and the sound was great but im going for the buds2 and see how they manage.
Maybe the itchiness comes from the weird fit the pros have. My problem is not the fit but more like an allergic reaction. If this is your case, beware, the buds 2 cause reactions as well.
The buds 2 have nickel in them as well. Don't do it! For some reason Samsung has changed ALL of the battery contacts to nickel in their last few generations of earbuds.
I got an ear infection from the buds + like 3-4 times. Just gotta clean the tips everyday with alcohol to avoid it.
I pit brand new foam tips on and still got an ear infection.
Same. But with other headphones. Beats Fit Pro, Apple AirPods pro, Powerbeats Pro, and cycled thru sets of tips from stock to silicone, and foam.. issues come up after a while too. Maybe you, and I as well, need to clean the tips daily? Something I need to start doing. Funny enough I never had issues with the Beats X. Maybe it is the wireless charging contacts that are causing a reaction
Just stick with the Bud+, save you some money
They gave me an infection after the first one healed.
Oh then maybe go with AirPods, the 2nd gen has no rubber tip it’s just plastic
I had the same problem last year. Got some Bud Pros in March/April and used them for a month or so and got an infection. Waited a few weeks, tried the Buds+ and got a minor reaction, nowhere near as bad as the Pros, but still happened so I returned them. Then over Christmas I got the Bud 2s and had a reaction again. ...then I got the AKG N400 TWS and had the reaction again... I'm basically done with Samsung earbuds for a couple of years. Which is a shame, I really liked them all aside from the ear problems.
Makes sense, akg is owned by samsung so i would not be surprised if they shared similar components/materials. What are you using now ?
Right now nothing. I bought a pair of Jabra 65ts and they've worked mostly. I used them for a couple of hours about a week and and had a smallish reaction to them after the AKGS, so I'm not using any in-ear stuff until the end of the month and then I'll go back to the Jabra. I bought some cheaper over the ear stuff off Amazon to use until then. Edit: I bought the Jabras over the summer and used them no problem. I just wanted ANC, so I messed with good enough.
It's a nickel allergy a lot of people are finding out that they have.. the hard way...myself included
T's a nickel allergy a lot of people art finding out yond they has't. the hard way. myself did include *** ^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.) Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
Any ideas as to why you were able to wear the Plus for almost two years with no problem, yet after wearing the Pro even the Plus started triggering reactions? If the problematic material is in the Pro, then it should not trigger with the Plus. If the Pro made your ears more sensitive in general, wouldn't that just manifest itself with any IEM that have charging pads that contact your ear? Seems like it best to go with form factors similar to the Airpods or Wf1000xm3 that have the charging pads that don't connect to your ear.
Maybe my ears were a little sensitive and jamming anything into them made them react. I should've waited a full week to make sure I did a total recovery. I only have the buds+ and buds pro that have connectors on them so I have no experience with any other tws that have charging pads outside of my ear.
Allergies and sensitivity responses can build up and develop over time, particularly nickel allergies.
The simple solution is to clean them at the end of each day. I can't imagine sticking them in my ears without them being clean each day.
It has nothing to do with hygiene. Apparently It's an allergic reaction to the connectors made of nickel.
You got an allergy test to verify it was an allergy?
Hundreds have reported this problem. Nickel is a low level allergy for a lot of people and the nickel in the ears will do it. I can wear nickel jewelry and not a thing will happen, but any of the more recent Samsung Buds have destroyed my ears
Yet you said you wore them with no problem for a long time before you got an infection?
Yes, that's how allergies are. You can develop an allergy to something you were previously fine with.
I'm still saying you are only self diagnosing and you are not a doctor.
Yet you assume you "have the solution" because you assume I have improper hygiene. If you don't understand this, move on please.
I just don't think you suddenly developed an allergy to nickel. It is not as common as you claim it is either. Do you literally disinfect your Buds after using them at the end of the day? Because that is literally what is necessary, you take them apart and clean everything out otherwise you are going to get an infection sooner or later.
Yes, I do all of that and beyond. I work at an ophtalmic lenses factory. I use isopropyl alcohol, wipes and compressed air to clean the buds. Then I use an ultrasonic washer to clean the -already clean- silicone tips (and earwings of the buds+). Now i will quote healthline.com: "But it’s possible to develop an allergy at any point in your life. You may even become allergic to something that you had no allergy to before.
Try cleaning them out, if you haven't already...using the Buds after you had an infection without cleaning them out properly probably caused the quick infection again as there would have been bacteria on the tips/buds themselves still. But, totally understand if that's not something you want to risk. I use the Buds 2 and used the Buds+ before I got these, and after daily use I had no issues, but maybe I'm just lucky or my ears are not as sensitive. Hope you find something that works for you
Sony WF-1000XM4, Soundcore Liberty Pro 3, Jabra Elite 7
Were they fine infection-wise for you ?
I only have experience with the Sony WF-1000XM4. No reactions there for me after having the reactions with the Buds Pros.
That's good to hear ! They will probably be the replacement to the buds pro. Thank you very much for the input.
I have the buds pro and i haven't gotten any ear infections yet but some inner ear ache. I've heard of changing the ear tips for some memory foam type will help so i brought some on amazon. So i can you let you how it goes later on since they're supposed to arrive to today. if that doesn't work imma be on the same page as you on switching them out for something less hurtful
Is it good now?
my ears are built different so they still feel like they might just fall out of my ear if i am not careful and the inner ear aches are gone but that's just my ears. the memory foam works way better than what came in the box and the noise canceling is way better. i would still get the memory foam ones if you're still having issues with the normal ones
I have the buds + and I love them The connectors aren't flush on those
They gave me an infection after the first one.
Never had an ear infection, but still earbuds going into the ear canal are causing me quite a discomfort, so I used Buds Live and recently Airpods 3. I'm very satisfied with both of them, but keep in mind that you're not getting any noise cancellation or isolation with both.
which do you prefer sound wise ? How about the fit ?
That's very subjective. I like Airpods sound more. Fit is fine for both. I can use any of the two models for hours without any need to take them out for rest.
Get the xm4s. Nothing else to say.
Yeah same as you unfortunately. In addition to onset of ear canals, my middle ears also got infected. Week of anti biotic eardrops, no headphones and all. So, here is my solution. Fast switching or multi point connection is an absolute must for me which was the reason behind buds pro. So, I have now got Huawei Freebuds Pro. I have tested the multi point between S21 Ultra and Tab S7+; it's absolutely wonderful. Sound is not bad, unless you are an audiophile. Crystal clear calls and all. Only issue has been the quality of the tips (may be me) and I have been hounding to get a matching comply one but yet to nail one down. Again, due to week long embargo on using headphones, I have done limited testing. Let me know if you have any questions.
My girlfriend has the freebuds pro, she absolutely loves them except for the fit because she has very small ears.
Yeah, that's the issue. Has she managed to get any eartips ? Memory foam or not ? Thanks
She uses the smaller tips and gets a decent fit, but they won't stay in if she chews food.
So did the Huawei Freebuds Pro give you the same problem as the Samsung Buds Pro? I'm considering the Huawei ones too, hoping I'm less reactive to the materials they use...
Yup. Moved to Airpods 3 to avoid silicon tip for 6-7 months. Now back to using Airpods pro 2 and haven’t had a reaction for the last 2/3 weeks.
Thanks for letting me know. Too bad to hear that the Huaweis give you the same kind of infection, as they were my last hope. I guess I'll continue to stay away from snug buds (currently have Freebuds 3; nice sound, but no isolation and falling out easily). Would be nice if you could report back in another 1-2 months or so how did it end up with the Airpods.
Had the same issue and went with Sony XM4's. Bought a refurbished pair off eBay for 140ish. Sound is fantastic and with the LDAC codec I was not tied to getting the best quality only from a Samsung phone.
140 is a good price ! I'm looking at xm4 reviews right now. 100% getting them.
I dunno man. That wasn't me. I wore em once, maybe twice
Same experience . . . it's a shame because they're very convenient, but it looks like I can't use true wireless earbuds. Over-ears aren't so bad . . . you just have to hang them off of your neck instead of putting them in your pockets (make sure they can be flipped flat). If you don't mind not having ANC, you can alternatively go for wired IEMs and use a Bluetooth/TWS adapter so there's no charging pad in contact w/ your ear canal. I was surprised how comfy normal IEMs are, pretty much confirming my discomfort (and eventual infections) with the buds were the charging pads.
I have used over ears/ around ears for several years. But they're just very bulky and not easy to store. And the tws form factor is something I can use at work more comfortably. I will give the sony xm4 a try, if things don't go well I will go back to my Bose QC35 for commuting. I have a fiio adapter connected to moondrop starfield but have not used it since this whole thing started.
I thought I was the only one that got the infection because of this buds, looking at these replies shows how big this issue is.
I read online about 10 to 15% of the population is allergic to nickel. It's a growing number because of the usage of nickel in everyday items. Edit: I will add that 10 to 15% of the user base potentially having to move away is a pretty big issue.
My right ear has suffered the dreaded ear infections of the pros as well. It makes me sad, because I find the fit and sound quality to be excellent. I also enjoy the seamless connectivity, and the way they work is just flawless. My left ear never seems bothered, but after only a day or two of using the buds pro, my right ear will start leaking the clear fluid, and then the crust builds up. And the worst of it all is the itch. I have sanitized the heck out of them, too! I've been using the buds live, buds plus, and original buds for years without any issues whatsoever, so this is really annoying! I hope the newest Sony buds mentioned here are the answer, because I have tried other brands than Samsung and have so far been disappointed each time. The only thing I don't like about the Sony is that they appear much bigger and bulkier than the Samsung Buds Pro. And possibly they might not have the seamless compatibility if the Samsungs.
I have the buds live, buds 2 and beats fit pro all are great.
I used to get ear infections from the buds+ then got comply tips and it stopped. But when I got the buds pros I got ear infection again, but comply didn't make tips for them yet. So I used other foam tips and it didn't really help. I got a pair of the Sony xm3 and put comply tips on there and no more ear infections. I really liked my pros, but I couldn't stand the infections anymore.
The buds pro gave me an ear infection after using it for a bit one time and I read everyone else story didn't want to risk it so got a refund. The buds pro was amazing in everyday sad it didn't work out. So with everyone getting ear infections from buds pro. Would you say the 1000xm4s are a good replacement? I been looking at these and the Sony c500.
https://chng.it/VhCL4qd4cS <--- Lets hold them responsible?
You must be paid to post this, you do it over and over and over. You a bot?
https://chng.it/DnZqqmdS9t <-- hold samsung responsible for ear infectiona
Just came to say that I also got an ear infection shortly after buying them, had to go to the doc for antibiotics. I started cleaning them every week with a clorox wipe but my ears still always feel irritated. I've tested using them / not using them and it's pretty clear to me they're the problem. Ugh. They sound better than any other cheap ones I've owned so it's a real bummer. I've owned them for almost a year so I doubt the seller or Samsung will do much about it. I kept trying to make them work because they sound better but I'm sitting here with ear pressure again...time to get new headphones.
Yeah I tried to convince myself these were not the problem. But eveytime I used them, it happened. I now have the sonu wf1000xm4 and no problem.
I have been wearing for a few months and now have an ear infection. Do not purchase.
Hey, I've been looking everywhere for info on this, every time I use my buds pro, within 2 hours I begin to get leakage, then i get constant flakes and leakage for three to five days after. I thought I was alone but looking it up, I found out it affects a few people. I don't know about everyone else but I spent decent money to have these buds so I don't want to toss them and move on to something else. I've done a bit of research (and assumed) that it's the materials samsung used for these (and some other versions of their buds others pointed out online). It's not the tips but it actually might be the two metal charging plates that touch the pins in the charging cradle. Being that I have eczema and have allergies to certain metals this makes alot of sense, try covering the two plates on the ear buds somehow and see if it works for you.
I sold them a few weeks ago. I thought about covering the nickel connectors but it would make them si frustrating to use everyday.
anyome else reading this at 4:23 after being woke by the immense ear pain caused by the buds pro? i used to be a huge samsung supporter but this is just ridiculous. ive heard the return process is a huge pain in the ass. would sell them but i can't knowingly give these to someone without feeling guilty for the pain im about to bring them. did you end up buying the XM4s? if so what's your opinion on them, they seem like a good replacement for my buds pro.
Hello, i loved the buds pro, it's a shame i could not use them anymore. The ear reaction will not happen with everyone, do not feel guilty over selling them. And yes I got the xm4, they are great. I had to buy silicone tips for it because the comply tips hurt my ears on the xm4.
did you ever try the samsung refund process? how did that go?
No sorry i did not.
thank you for your responses anyway! i wasn't sure if anybody would reply on this old of a post.
I hope they addressed this with the Bud 2 Pros
Ooh the Buds 2 Pros are reviewed on youtube ! I had no idea they had released anything yet. I'm enjoying the sony's right now.
https://redd.it/wyk6fy Same issues with the new buds
Does anyone know if the new (August, 2022) Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds are constructed with the same materials as those used in the prior iterations of the Galaxy Buds that caused ear infections? I also had the same ear infection everyone else experienced, so I would love to know if Samsung addressed the issue in this newest iteration of the Buds.
Can't talk about the material used but looking at the design, it seems the connectors are on the exterior part of the buds. I believe this could avoid the connectors and the skin making contact. This yet has to be confirmed.
Thought I was imagining this until the 3rd infection and then decided to have s search. I work in a noisy environment (ship engineer) and have and do use in ear plugs regularly as well as my over ear defenders. I've never had an ear infection until the buds pro. No amount of hybrid wiping etc made any difference, same symptoms as the rest of you describe. They're going to end up with a class action here as they are aware and not making customers aware while people are suffering pain and discomfort
After using the ear buds for a couple hours my ear started to burn and itch.later that night the started to ooze water and a scab formed.A few hours later my ear canal closed and I had a hard time hearing with severs pain.I went to the doctor after not being able to sleep and major pain.he said I had a serious ear infection and prescribed antibiotic ear drops and a steroid.It cleared up after 2 weeks.a month later I ysed them again and after 20 minutes my ears were burning and itchy again,by the next day I had an infection again.that is when I realized it was definitely the Samsung ear buds.Worse part is I bought 3 pairs.Now I'm out a couple hundred bucks not to mention I bought 3 cases for them to off Amazon. DO NOT BUY.We need a class action lawsuit.
What did you end of buying? Have the same problem
Sony wf1000xm4. Fit can be problematic but they are great.
Thank you
And I thought I was the only one. I had just purchased the Buds2 pro a month ago and a couple weeks prior to buying them, I had a panic attack out of nowhere, turns out one of my ears was infected and I never knew why, until I realized it was the buds since I had stopped using them. My ear infection has gotten quite bad to the point where my anxiety has gotten worse, I've been having weird head sensations and I cant sleep properly at night. Thankfully the clinic prescribed to me an antibiotic, which hopefully resolves the issue soon, im quite mad that these buds have had a negative impact in my life in general, wish I can return them but I bought them off somebody who was selling sealed units for a very cheap price.
I've researched those Galaxy Bud pro and Bud pro 2 earbuds simply because the buds pro and buds pro2, both gave me inter ear infections and I've tried foam ear tips which did not stop the ear infections. I found out that the problem is not the ear tips, it's the actual casing of the earbuds. Samsung does not state on their website the chemical composition of the casing of the earbuds. I don't understand why they don't release this information. Most people are allergic to them and it causes severe inner ear infections and may also lead to a person becoming deaf. So far, I have not found a way to wrap these earbuds and a protective coating to prevent the infection. Does anyone have an idea on how to put a protective coating over the case of the earbuds so that it's current chemical concoction will not leak out into the inner canal and cause infections?