Most people nowadays will have a smartphone, and many would say that they couldn’t live without theirs. But are you willing to risk your own life by scrimping on quality to buy a cheap counterfeit charger?
There have been a string of incidents in recent months which have seen Apple product users being electrically shocked when unplugging their devices, and one which even resulted in death.
Earlier this year, a young woman was reportedly killed by an electric shock when she answered a call on her iPhone 5 while it was recharging, and another woman was claimed to be left in a coma when she did the same. Other similar events of phones melting and oozing acid, MacBook batteries causing mattresses to set fire, and a man waking up to a smoking iPhone on his bedside table have also hit the headlines. But what is causing this? Is it all down to Apple? Or is it the fault of something else?
It is very likely that these serious events are the fault of fake chargers, and it makes you wonder why people would purchase such shoddy products. This could be the result of simply not knowing the facts, or because the smartphone using public are trying to save money in such tough times.
You can buy the official iPhone charger from Apple at a cost of £15; however, you could also log onto Amazon and bag a replica charger for as little as £5. But this is a saving that can come with a much higher price in the long run.
So, how can you spot a defective iPhone charger?
Apple have started a worldwide campaign to help customers tell the genuine articles from the fake, which gives the user comprehensive online guides on how to spot the difference between the real deal and counterfeit products. The campaign promises to replace third-party and counterfeit USB chargers for Apple product users.
Apple told the Daily Mail; ‘Recent reports have suggested that some counterfeit and third-party adaptors may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues,
‘While not all third-party adaptors have an issue, we are announcing a USB Power Adapter Takeback Programme to enable customers to acquire properly designed adaptors.’
The current that flows through a charging phone is commonly not enough to kill a person, so in the fatal case of the Chinese woman it was fair to say that the charger must have been fake. If you are using the correct charger that came with your smartphone or tablet, then it shouldn’t take as long to charge as a counterfeit model. A recent test by Techhive.com found that an iPhone 5 took two hours 16 minutes to fully charge, but it took two hours 57 minutes with a bogus charger. The test also revealed that the iPad 4 took five hours and nine minutes to charge fully, but a shocking 19 hours and 13 minutes with the bogus charger.
A few methods to identify whether your charger is real are:
- Look closely at the physical appearance of the charger. The writing on the original charger should state ‘Designed by Apple in California’, whereas the fake charger would have something like ‘Designed by California’
- ‘Apple Japan’ will also not appear on a counterfeit charger for copyright reasons.
- Take a look at the hardware component inside the charger. There will be a very clear difference between the two.
Concerned consumers who believe they may have a defective charger can visit any Apple store where they will dispose of it properly and replace it with a legitimate charger for only £8. If you have any other concerns or worries then please feel free to contact Apple or speak to a representative in store.
In conclusion, an iPhone charger may cost a little more than the fake one, but never take the risk when it comes to safety, as this is of course the most important factor.
Another way to be safe is to always look for the pat label on other plugs and electrical devices to ensure they are safe to use.
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