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Apple Investigating Reports of iPhone 8 Plus Devices 'Splitting Open' (9to5mac.com)
Apple is currently investigating reports of the iPhone 8 Plus splitting open while being charged with the included cable and plug adapter. The first claim comes from a Taiwanese iPhone 8 Plus owner, who posted photos which show damage consistent with a swollen battery. The second claim is from a Japanese owner who posted similar photos of his device, which he says arrived in this state. The Next Web reports: The phone belonged to a Ms. Wu, who recently renewed her phone contract and purchased a 64GB rose gold iPhone 8 Plus. The issue emerged five days after purchasing the phone. Wu placed her phone on charge, using the supplied cable and adaptor. After three minutes, she reported seeing the front panel bulge, and eventually lift completely from the device. According to multiple Taiwanese outlets, the phone was later recovered by the carrier, and has since been shipped to Apple for analysis. 9to5Mac adds: While any incident affecting a new iPhone model is bound to attract media attention, it's worth noting the usual disclaimers. First, any device manufactured in the millions will include some faulty models -- the real news would be if this were not the case. Second, investigations into charging-related incidents often reveal that a third-party charger was used, even when an owner initially claims to have used the supplied Apple one.
It's just designed to be charged while in the freezer. Pretty simple fix. I expect Apple fridges soon with lightening connectors beside the ice tray so you can charge up the phone safely.
There was a young lady named Wu. Whose new iphone broke into two. To her dismay, The warranty did say. If you're too fat this could happen to you.
I don't think this is impossible, but I am pretty suspicious that both failed devices are from Asia - how to we know these are not some really good look alike clones? You'd think if this was really an issue there'd be at least one report from Europe or the U.S.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
At work I have lost two old macs because the battery swelled, but these were about four years old.
If this is a problem for the iPhone it is bad news, but I suspect they will replace it. If this is a problem for the iPhone, when it is new then I suspect it is going to be a widespread problem, like the watch.
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
Parent is totally correct. The batteries swell because they were overcharged. The charging circuitry is *INSIDE* the phone, not the charger. Even if a third party charger was used, it's still the phone's job to keep track of how charged the battery is. It's not like third-party 5 Volts is any different from Genuine Apple 5 Volts. Either way, it's still 5 volts.
First of all, do not leave your iPhone in direct sunlight. It'll kill it. Second, don't immerse it in water—not even to clean it. But the most important rule—the rule you can never forget—no matter how much it buzzes, no matter how red the charge indicator is, never charge it after midnight.
Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.
Parent is totally correct. The batteries swell because they were overcharged. The charging circuitry is *INSIDE* the phone, not the charger. Even if a third party charger was used, it's still the phone's job to keep track of how charged the battery is. It's not like third-party 5 Volts is any different from Genuine Apple 5 Volts. Either way, it's still 5 volts.
Actually, LiOn/LiPo battery charge circuitry monitors battery temperature to determine when to start throttling-back in the initial phase of the charging profile. It does not monitor current or, for example, Samsung's exploding batteries (which were caused by internal short-circuits in the layers of the batteries, which would have naturally shown up as increased charging current) would likely have stopped at the "bulging" stage.
So, either this was a bad battery, or the battery temp sensing in this particular phone was defective.
Having said that, if it truly started bulging after only 3 minutes, that pretty much HAS at one the fault of the battery, IMHO.
Maybe instead of pushing the boundaries of battery size, they should make a phone that can fit a good sized battery safely with current battery technology.
While they are at it, they could make the screens and case thick enough to resist day to day use.
I'm not just complaining about Apple here either.
If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. - James Madison
Or, if you were committed to a good design, you'd run through user tests and discover people LIKE putting their phones in their back pocket and then design your phone so it would survive that treatment. Don't blame the customer for what they would assume would be normal handling and care - because all other phones can do it...
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
What you call a "charger" is actually a power supply - the charger is integrated into the phone. It is therefore physically impossible to use a third party charger. And consequently, blaming the power supply is just a lame attempt to avoid liability.
Who knows, this could be Apples "Note 7" moment.