A good old iPhone 4, over ten years old, recently caught fire while being silently charged in a family’s kitchen and the explosion was caught on camera. An event that could have been dramatic, given that the fire broke out during the night while the family was sleeping. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
An accident under control
If you thought recent iPhones were more prone to catching fire due to fast charging and large battery, know that this can happen with an iPhone 4, a model released in 2010. This incident is an opportunity to remember what can cause a battery to explode.
Details of what transpired were revealed in a Facebook post by Ohio residents Brian and Jennifer Leisgang. The family says the video was captured by a Google Home in the kitchen set to always record.
The family explains how the scenario could have turned into a nightmare:
Avoiding a house fire was a great stroke of luck. Our kids were using the Apple charger to charge our old iPhone 4 when it exploded and caught fire in our kitchen last night while we were sleeping.
There are usually a lot of school books and papers on the counter, but luckily yesterday we cleaned everything up. This morning the counter was covered in small pieces of telephone and black soot.
Why can an iPhone battery explode?
Although lithium-ion batteries are often used in electronic devices with a very low fire risk, it is not impossible for overheating to cause an explosion. Manufacturing defects, damage from drilling, power surges, or exposure to high heat are common causes.
In this case, even if the charging cable appears to be in good shape, cheap chargers are often the cause of battery fires.
Another factor to consider is the age of the iPhone. Older iPhones don’t have a particularly high fire risk, but battery maintenance is very important. An iPhone that has been in use for 12 years will either have a replacement battery or be connected to a charger almost constantly. And in this case, overheating may be more frequent.
Also, as lithium-ion batteries age, they can increase in size. The energy is generated by a chemical reaction that takes place inside the battery, but over time the chemical reaction can weaken and produce a gas. As a result, the battery swells and is much more likely to catch fire.
Bottom line, if you want to use an iPhone that is starting to age, consider having the battery checked. You can also check its capacity in iOS settings and, if necessary, go to the Apple Store to have the battery replaced. For a few tens of euros you will leave with an iPhone in great shape. Otherwise, hit the sale to find the latest iPhone 14 on sale.
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