iPhone exploded while charging overnight - Are you making charging mistakes?
Over the last few years, there have been several instances of people’s phones exploding for no apparent reason. Many victims claim they were using their devices as usual before the ensuing inferno, but that’s often not the entire story.
Read on for details on the latest incident where an iPhone burst into flames.
Here’s the backstory
After putting their iPhone 4 on charge in the kitchen, a family from Ohio went to sleep as usual. The next morning, their son noticed the phone was damaged. After reviewing security camera footage, the family was shocked to see the phone burst into flames the night before.
“I’m assuming the battery was so degraded that it overheated. We had no indication that the battery was degraded (as) the performance of the phone was working fine,” Jennifer Leisgang told Inside Edition.
Leisgang explains that the iPhone was bought new over 10 years ago and was charged using the original cable that came with it. The family says that an Apple representative has been in contact with them and explained that the company would try to figure out what happened to the vintage device.
Here is a quick video where you can see the actual moment the iPhone went up in flames.
Smartphone charging mistakes to avoid
Exploding phones are rare but not unheard of. In 2019, a mother’s iPhone exploded and destroyed her Jeep Grand Cherokee. However, in this case, the iPhone battery wasn’t the original, as it was a replacement she ordered from a third-party seller. Bad idea.
Here are some ways to safely charge older phones:
Never cover your phone while charging. Lithium-ion batteries can overheat if covered with a blanket or clothing and if it gets too hot, they can explode.
Don’t charge your device with cheap cables, docking stations or adapters. Always use official or certified chargers and cables. Knock-off brands have had overheating problems in the past.
Never use cables or charging accessories that are damaged. It only takes a small spark to start a fire.
Stop using your phone while it’s charging. Using your phone while charging can rapidly increase the temperature, putting strain on your battery, screen and processor.
Remove the case on older phones. If you have an old smartphone, removing its case while charging is a good idea. This can help keep it from overheating.
Amazon has been a source of essentials, hobbies, electronics and supplies during the pandemic, and business has been booming as a result. You can find just about anything on Amazon, which is both good and bad. Need an obscure replacement part for your dishwasher? You can probably find it on Amazon. But not all products are useful, and some can be downright dangerous.
More sweet Father’s Day ideas … or handy stuff to get for yourself!
A magnetic wristband ($9.99) for holding nails, screws and bolts while he’s working. You know … dad jewelry.
Even the dad with the most kitted-out toolbox probably doesn’t have a damaged-screw extractor set ($9.99). Don’t forget to click on the coupon for an additional 20% off.
This universal socket adapter for his drill has nearly 20,000 five-star reviews, and it’s 10% off ($8.99).
If he’s ever smashed his thumb hammering a nail, this nail-holder ($9.99) will be a very thoughtful gift, as well as a nice little callback joke to the time he smashed his thumb hammering a nail.
A multitool ($11.99) that’s a screwdriver, hex wrench, cord cutter, ruler, box opener, bottle opener and a keychain. Phew!
Upgrade for the aux: Tired of cables? This adapter lets you go wireless with CarPlay so you don’t have to clutter your console with a three-foot USB cord. Love that.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Recall alert: Over 900,000 Hatch Rest first-generation baby sound machine adapters are being recalled, because the adapter housing can come off, exposing power prongs. If yours has model number CYAP05-050100U stamped on it, get a free replacement here.
It might feel like we all have our heads in the cloud when it comes to backing up and sharing data. Mac users store their files in iCloud or Dropbox or through other cloud backup services. But there’s still a need for actual physical backup drives, and you will want one that’s a good match for your Mac.
I hate waste and wasting money. These items help you get every last little drop of the stuff you paid for.
For bottles:This bottle-emptying kit ($9.86) has a base cap and three adapters you can use to replace the top on your bottle. Get every last drop of shampoo, dish soap or ketchup.
For jars: These skinny spatulas ($4.99) are made of food-grade silicone so you can use them to get the last of your swanky eye cream or fancy truffle hot sauce.
For tubes: A good-lookin’ and good-workin’ squeezer ($12.97) to get the last bit of toothpaste, sunscreen and any other tube-based product.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
No Wi-Fi? Add a wireless connection to your desktop computer
While most desktops and laptops come with built-in Wi-Fi these days, some models lack wireless capability, leaving their users connected to a router via ethernet cable.
