OnePlus might finally tackle one of the most annoying things about wireless earbuds. The company is reportedly working on a new feature that alerts you when an earbud slips out of your ear, reducing the chances of losing it when you’re not paying attention.
Android Authority spotted the upcoming feature, called “Earbud fall detection,” while digging through the latest version of OnePlus’ Hey Melody companion app (version 116.3.0). A screenshot of its settings page suggests that the feature will play a sound on both earbuds when it detects that an earbud has fallen out. It will also send a notification to help you locate it.
While the settings page doesn’t reveal exactly how Earbud fall detection works, it will likely rely on the same sensors used for in-ear detection, which automatically plays or pauses music when you insert or remove your earbuds. However, it’s not immediately clear how the feature will differentiate between an accidental drop and a user intentionally taking an earbud out.
It is speculated that OnePlus might rely on a combination of sensor data and software logic to determine whether an earbud has accidentally fallen out or been intentionally removed. The company is expected to shed some light on its inner workings when the feature is ready for rollout.
Release timeline and compatibility still under wraps
For now, there’s no official word from OnePlus on the feature or when it may reach users. The app doesn’t include any compatibility details either, so it’s unclear whether Earbud fall detection will be available on all earbuds or reserved for OnePlus’ flagship offerings. Nonetheless, it’s great to see OnePlus finally addressing an issue many wireless earbud users have faced over the years.
Given that Oppo earbuds also work with the Hey Melody app, the feature could potentially roll out to Oppo users as well. However, we’ll have to wait until the rollout for confirmation.