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Apple says iPhones safe despite China 'fires' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Apple has blamed "external factors" for a handful of iPhone battery "fires" in China. | |
Eight users have complained to Shanghai's consumer watchdog that their iPhone 6 series handsets spontaneously combusted or exploded. | Eight users have complained to Shanghai's consumer watchdog that their iPhone 6 series handsets spontaneously combusted or exploded. |
The US tech giant said it had conducted tests on the devices and had found "no cause for concern with these products". | The US tech giant said it had conducted tests on the devices and had found "no cause for concern with these products". |
One technology analyst told the BBC she did not believe it to be a widespread problem. | One technology analyst told the BBC she did not believe it to be a widespread problem. |
Apple said the iPhones had external physical damage "which led to the thermal event". | Apple said the iPhones had external physical damage "which led to the thermal event". |
The watchdog's report quoted one woman as saying her iPhone 6S Plus exploded in August, shattering the screen and leaving the battery and back of the phone blackened. | The watchdog's report quoted one woman as saying her iPhone 6S Plus exploded in August, shattering the screen and leaving the battery and back of the phone blackened. |
The regulator refers to combustion and smoking, but it is not clear whether flames were seen. | |
'Top priority' | 'Top priority' |
Apple has denied that it was slow to respond to consumer complaints raised by the state-run Shanghai Consumer Council. | |
'We treat safety as a top priority and have found no cause for concern with these products,' the company added. | 'We treat safety as a top priority and have found no cause for concern with these products,' the company added. |
Xiaohan Tay, technology analyst for IDC in Beijing, said: "From what we are seeing in the market, it doesn't seem to be a big problem yet in China, we can't confirm whether all iPhone 6 and 6S models are at risk." | Xiaohan Tay, technology analyst for IDC in Beijing, said: "From what we are seeing in the market, it doesn't seem to be a big problem yet in China, we can't confirm whether all iPhone 6 and 6S models are at risk." |
"At this point, it doesn't seem that there is any major implication yet for the iPhones sold outside of China," she told the BBC. | "At this point, it doesn't seem that there is any major implication yet for the iPhones sold outside of China," she told the BBC. |
However, complaints against Apple have surged in the past two months according to the Shanghai Consumer Council. | However, complaints against Apple have surged in the past two months according to the Shanghai Consumer Council. |
China sales | China sales |
They include reports of sudden shutdowns of the iPhone 6 and 6S - even though batteries still had enough power. | They include reports of sudden shutdowns of the iPhone 6 and 6S - even though batteries still had enough power. |
Apple last month offered to change iPhone 6S batteries for Chinese users who complained of the sudden shutdowns. | Apple last month offered to change iPhone 6S batteries for Chinese users who complained of the sudden shutdowns. |
But it has maintained that the problem did not constitute a safety issue. | But it has maintained that the problem did not constitute a safety issue. |
The firm has seen Chinese sales fall over the past three quarters following rising competition with domestic smartphone makers offering cheaper models. | The firm has seen Chinese sales fall over the past three quarters following rising competition with domestic smartphone makers offering cheaper models. |
Those domestic handset makers are likely to have received a boost after South Korea's Samsung Electronics recalled 2.5 million Note 7 handsets globally following a series of battery fires. | Those domestic handset makers are likely to have received a boost after South Korea's Samsung Electronics recalled 2.5 million Note 7 handsets globally following a series of battery fires. |
Analysts say those problems have not only damaged Samsung's reputation but have raised distrust of foreign smartphone brands in China. | Analysts say those problems have not only damaged Samsung's reputation but have raised distrust of foreign smartphone brands in China. |