Unlucky Number 7? Apple Inc. Customers Report iPhone 7 Fires and Other Issues
After Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSNLF), it’s Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) turn to confront smartphone fires. Indeed, after the serious problems related to fire-prone batteries on the “Samsung Galaxy Note 7,” Apple may be facing similar problems with the “iPhone 7.” (Source: “Are iPhones now exploding? Apple users in China complain that their handsets have caught fire,” Daily Mail, December 6, 2016.)
Seven is typically a lucky number. But, evidently not so much when it comes to smartphones. Manufacturers might want to avoid it in the future. A Chinese consumer watchdog has urged Apple to investigate the problem of the iPhone 7 handsets catching fire.
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In fact, the problem of exploding iPhones seems to span the gamut of offerings from the Cupertino, California-based company. Reports of Chinese iPhone users claiming their handsets caught fire or exploded have increased. (Source: Ibid.)
The problem appears to have affected “iPhone 6” users, but an iPhone 7 also reportedly caught fire—even exploded. But, unlike the incidents involving the Galaxy Note 7, the fire in question was triggered during shipping. The package did not catch fire, but the customer found a burned out iPhone 7. (Source: “iPhone 7 catches fire while in transit,” BGR, September 29, 2016.)
Chinese consumers have made similar complaints while an Australian says that a burning iPhone 7 set his car on fire. (Source: “Apple launches investigation after surfer claims iPhone 7 set his car on fire,” The Independent, October 22, 2016.)
Is this a simple misfortune or a major production problem related to the battery of the iPhone 7? One thing is certain: Apple will investigate the situation. However, the fire incidents are just the tip of an iceberg of potential battery problems affecting the newer iPhones.
At the end of November, Apple recalled some “iPhone 6S” and “iPhone 6S Plus” phones affected by a battery problem. Luckily, these were not fire-related issues, but those smartphones are prone to suddenly shut off. Oddly enough, most of the reported problems have come from China.
Apple has offered a prompt explanation. On its Chinese web site, Apple said that a few iPhone 6S phones manufactured between September and October 2015 have batteries that were exposed to ambient air for too long before assembly. These batteries degrade faster than expected, causing shutdowns and nuisances for users.
