[steve86]

What I can’t figure out is how the Airbuds figure out which is the right ear and which is the left, with no user input and placed in the ears randomly.

[roadcat]

What I can’t figure out is how the Airbuds figure out which is the right ear and which is the left, with no user input and placed in the ears randomly.

The sensor is on one side. Put it in wrong, it won't work. 50-50 chance of getting it right in the dark, if you can't discern the difference in shape by feel. If wrong, swap them and they'll instantly work because the sensor knows when it is in the correct ear.

[Swordmaker]

What I can’t figure out is how the Airbuds figure out which is the right ear and which is the left, with no user input and placed in the ears randomly.

DUH! One has an "R" on it, the other has an "L" on it. GRIN

[LouieFisk]

“What I can’t figure out is how the Airbuds figure out which is the right ear and which is the left, with no user input and placed in the ears randomly.”
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Going by the pic accompanying the article, it would seem that they work with the the things that look like small tampons pointing forward. They would each only fit one ear in specific when aimed that way.