Huawei launches new earbud replacement service in China

Huawei has pioneered a new customer service add-on that lowers the cost of replacing lost or damaged earbuds.

According to ITHome, Huawei’s new headset replacement service allows customers to purchase a single earbud at a lower price. Per a machine translate poster, the “Worry-Free Headphone Loss Service” offers users a “50% discount on the price of a single earphone.” The coverage is valid for two years after users first purchase their earbuds.

The service is limited to China and is only valid for three mid-range models: the FreeBuds 4i, Freebuds 4, and FreeBuds Pro. These earbuds retail between £79-£129 (~$106-$174) in the UK.

How much are Huawei’s replacement buds?

Replacement pricing for these buds isn’t immediately apparent. On the company’s Chinese spare parts site, a replacement FreeBuds 4 earbud, for instance, costs 459 yuan (~$72). Slap a 50% discount on that, and a replacement through this service should theoretically come in at around 229 yuan (~$40).

However, Huawei also lists three “suggested retail prices” on its poster, namely 39 yuan (~$6) for the FreeBuds 4i, 69 yuan (~$11) for the FreeBuds 4, and 79 yuan (~$12) for the FreeBuds Pro. It’s unclear what these prices are related to, but we’re guessing it could be the price consumers pay to get access to this service.

See also: The best true wireless earbuds

How does Huawei’s earbud replacement service work?

Huawei confirmed to Android Authority that the service “will come to international markets later,” but it’s a service other earbud makers should seriously consider implementing themselves in the meantime. Finding earbuds that don’t fall out remains a challenge, and even the most cautious users can lose one. If you’re dropping over $100 on a pair, it’s arguably worth paying a little more for a service that offers a cheaper replacement bud. Flagship smartphones often land with free screen replacements and other care programs; why not earbuds?

We’ve reached out to Huawei for more details on the terms of the service. But what do you think of the service? Would you sign up for something similar? Let us know by voting in the poll above.