# How using one earbud more than the other can cause uneven wear and tear

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/how-using-one-earbud-more-than-the-other-can-cause-uneven-wear-and-tear/
- Published: 2026-11-01T23:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T00:03:28+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2301054/using-one-earbud-more-than-other-cause-uneven-wear-and-tear/
- Topics: Gadgets

## Key points

- One earbud used more often may wear out sooner.
- Alternating sides can help balance battery use.
- Transparency mode can keep you aware of your surroundings.

## Summary

Frequently using one earbud can make its battery wear out faster than its partner, because it handles more use and charging cycles. The imbalance may leave the favoured bud dead while the other still has charge, and some older designs cannot play through the remaining bud on its own.

Many newer earbuds let either bud work independently, making it easier to alternate sides and spread usage. The article recommends limiting single-bud listening, using transparency or ambient mode to hear your surroundings, and using a phone’s speaker or car system for calls while driving; rules on driving with an earbud vary by location.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.