14 DAY TRIAL // A Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has literally exploded while inserting the SIM, with the whole incident caught on video by the CCTV cameras inside a store.
The video, which has since been removed and re-uploaded on different accounts, shows a Xiaomi Android smartphone being inspected by a shopkeeper at what is said to be a service center in Bangalore, India. It goes without saying that the device wasn’t connected to a charger, which could be a suggestion that the explosion was caused by a short circuit that took place through the SIM tray.
While details on the smartphone have so far been sketchy and many people thought the video was fake, Xiaomi India has actually confirmed the incident (not the video though) and even replaced the man’s phone with a new unit.
Xiaomi: It’s not our fault
But as far as the exploding device is concerned, Xiaomi says the explosion took place because the Redmi Note 4 was charged with a third-party charger and the device suffered physical damage. While third-party chargers are highly unlikely to cause such an explosion when not connected, physical damage could indeed be at fault, though once again no specifics were provided.
“We would like to state that this video has no relation to the concerned Redmi Note 4,” a Xiaomi spokesperson was quoted as saying.
“After an internal investigation, we found that the only recent incident of a burnt Redmi Note 4 stemmed from a Bangalore based customer – Arjun. He had purchased a Redmi Note 4 from a Poorvika store in Bangalore on 1st June 2017. His phone was damaged at his home on 17th July 2017, following which he took the phone to the aforementioned Poorvika store on the same day,” Xiaomi continued.
“As soon as we were alerted to this incident, we took the device back. After a thorough technical investigation, we found out that the damage was caused due to a faulty third-party charger used by the customer. In addition, there were signs of physical damage on the phone as well.”
Despite the physical damage that the phone received, Xiaomi has anyway replaced the man’s device with a brand new Redmi Note 4 earlier this week, once again recommending customers to use only authorized chargers and accessories.
If for some reason you’re still interested in buying this phone, you can find out more about it by reading our Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 review here. And of course, make sure you watch the shocking video below.
