14 DAY TRIAL // It’s been a while since the last fire incident involving an iPhone, yet a new report making the rounds these days claim to show, with CCTV footage as living proof, an Apple device bursting into flames in a service center without the phone even being touched by anyone.
The device in question is an iPhone 6s, according to ABC affiliate KTNV, and it was brought in store to have its screen replaced because “it cracked when the battery expanded from the heat.”
While it’s not known if the phone was still running at the time of the incident, surveillance camera videos show the iPhone 6s exploding all of a sudden, most likely due to the same faulty battery.
No one was injured, and judging from the footage, the service engineer rushed to another phone, possibly to call 911. Apple hasn’t commented on the incident, as it’s probably investigating.
At this point, it’s nearly impossible to tell whether the footage is real or not, but this isn’t the first time iPhones catch fire all of a sudden for no clear reason. Without a doubt, however, the physical damage that this device received before the incident clearly contributed to the iPhone bursting into flames, again if this video is indeed real.
Battery replacement program
Apple is currently running a global battery replacement campaign for the iPhone throughout the entire year, as the company acknowledged that it intentionally slowed down devices with worn-out batteries. The firm reduced the servicing costs from $79 to $29, and the iPhone 6s is one of the models that are being targeted.
But even though it’s subject to this battery replacement promo, the iPhone 6s has never suffered from a widespread battery issue that could lead to overheating and explosion, so if this isn’t fake, it’s one of those rare cases that Apple needs to carefully look into.
It remains to be seen if Cupertino ever says a word on this, but judging from its modus operandi, this is unlikely to happen.