Tech giant Apple has raised concerns over the safety implications of leaving iPhones to charge overnight in close proximity to users during sleep. The company’s advisory highlights potential hazards such as the elevated risk of fires, electric shocks, personal injuries, and damage to property. Apple strongly recommends that individuals prioritize well-ventilated spaces for phone charging and avoid the practice of situating devices beneath blankets or pillows while they are connected to a power source.
In Brief:
- Apple cautions against sleeping in close proximity to a charging phone, emphasizing the potential dangers of fire, electric shock, and property damage.
- The practice of charging a phone beneath a blanket or pillow is strongly discouraged due to the heightened risk of overheating and associated hazards.
- To ensure safety, Apple suggests utilizing their official “Made for iPhone” cables and chargers, designed to meet rigorous safety standards.
- Users are advised against opting for cheaper third-party alternatives, as they might not provide the same level of security and quality assurance.
Apple has issued a cautionary advisory to smartphone users, drawing attention to the potential hazards associated with sleeping next to a charging phone. The company’s service announcement underscores the critical importance of safe phone charging practices and underscores the perils linked to slumbering alongside a device connected to a charging cable.
Dangers encompass the risk of fire, electric shock, injuries, and property damage. To mitigate these potential threats, Apple emphatically recommends users ensure their phones are connected to a cable in a well-ventilated area while charging.
Additional care is urged against charging a phone beneath bedding or a pillow, as it elevates the risk of device overheating. The central directive from Apple is unambiguous: “Avoid sleeping on a device, power adapter, or wireless charger, and refrain from situating them under bedding, pillows, or your body while connected to a power source.” The counsel is to use and charge iPhones, power adapters, and wireless chargers exclusively in spaces with ample airflow.
Apple underscores the potential perils posed by third-party chargers, particularly lower-cost alternatives lacking the rigorous safety standards upheld by Apple’s endorsed products. In response, the company advises users to opt for “Made for iPhone” cables conforming to globally recognized safety mandates.
While acknowledging that third-party cables and power adapters adhering to USB 2.0 or later standards and requisite safety protocols can charge an iPhone, Apple stresses that subpar adapters may compromise safety, potentially resulting in harm or fatality. The scope of Apple’s warning extends beyond sleep-related scenarios.
It also accentuates the imperative of steering clear of liquid proximity during charging and urges prompt disposal of impaired chargers. Charging with compromised accessories or in damp conditions heightens the risk of fires, electric shocks, injuries, and property damage. Ultimately, Apple’s counsel underscores the pivotal significance of adhering diligently to their safety guidelines. This conscientious approach stands as a safeguard, shielding users, their devices, and their surroundings from potential harm.