Apple iPhone 7 Plus explosion: Redditor claims device caught fire in transit

Following the recall and subsequent replacement of exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, it seems the new Apple iPhone 7 Plus also has the same problem. A Reddit user has claimed that a new iPhone has exploded in transit.

According to Redditor kroopthesnoop’s post, his co-worker’s pre-ordered iPhone 7 Plus has exploded during shipment. He included photos of the said iPhone here and here.

“At least the package didn’t catch on fire,” the Redditor quipped. The photos show that while the iPhone box looks worse for wear and is damaged by a hole, the explosion appears to have been contained inside the box. The iPhone, on the other hand, is a total wreck.

The user said an account exec from Apple’s Texas offices reached out to ask for information. The staff said they would work with AT&T, the iPhone owner’s network carrier, to expedite a replacement phone.

The veracity of the post hasn’t been confirmed. As there were no other reports of an exploding iPhone 7 yet, some commenters have doubted the images Redditor kroopthesnoop has provided.

“But I don’t believe iPhone 7 customers have anything to worry about despite the headlines you might see this week,” 9to5Mac’s Zac Hall wrote. “If the iPhone 7 had a serious defect that caused it to combust during charging or regular use, we’d know.”

Earlier this month, Samsung issued a recall of its Galaxy Note 7 due to exploding batteries. The South Korean tech giant gave affected customers the option of either a refund of the cost of the Android smartphone or a replacement. The replacement units for Samsung Australia were made available starting Sep. 21.

Read more:
Samsung Australia to deliver Galaxy Note 7 replacement devices starting Sep. 21
Samsung customers complain on overheating batteries of Galaxy Note 7 replacement devices