14 DAY TRIAL // Any portable gadget that uses a Li-Ion battery can explode given the right circumstances. But what are those circumstances and how can we avoid them?
You may have heard of quite a few incidents where an iPhone exploded, injuring its user. Some argue that these reports are common because the Apple brand is popular and it makes good headlines.
Amidst reports of several iPhone 3GS units exploding, Apple issued a statement in August of 2009 (after investigating some of these cases).
The company said at the time, “To date, there are no confirmed battery overheating incidents for iPhone 3GS and the number of reports we are investigating is in the single digits.”
“The iPhones with broken glass that we have analyzed to date show that in all cases the glass cracked due to an external force that was applied to the iPhone.”
However, the reality is (or has been, since 2009) that some iPhones can explode all of the sudden, not just after being handled improperly. For that, you can blame design defects, the battery manufacturer, or anything in between.
There’s always a combination of factors that can lead to an iPhone combusting spontaneously, and Apple simply can’t keep track of all these factors when it commissions the assembly of millions of iPhones.
Not to mention people generally won’t admit all the horrid stuff they’ve put their phones through. There’s always that one thing you’re ashamed of admitting, and you’d rather blame the manufacturer.
On every Li-Ion battery there’s this warning about not puncturing or bending the cell as it may begin to act up.
So, when you put your iPhone in your back pocket and sit on it, you can be sure it’s your fault the thing exploded and gave you second-degree burns.
You shouldn’t overcharge it either, as that too can lead to such mishaps.
Don’t use knockoff chargers, and don’t be surprised if it blows up on you after you dropped it in the toilet and then dried it up on a radiator.
Don’t use it in sub-zero temperatures, then take it to a room where the temperature is high enough to get a tan. Condensation can cause the battery to short circuit.
All these are just common sense tips. Nothing really technical here. Avoid all this and your iPhone will be fine.
Disclaimer This is a Personal Thoughts piece reflecting the author’s personal opinion on matters relating to Apple and / or the products associated with the Apple brand. This article should not be taken as the official stance of Softpedia on Apple-related matters.