Apple has issued a cautionary notice to users, urging them to refrain from sleeping next to their charging smartphones.
Numerous smartphone users habitually connect their devices for overnight charging. However, this seemingly innocuous practice could potentially expose them and their dwellings to significant hazards. Apple has taken the initiative to inform its users about the potential adverse consequences of tethering a smartphone to the primary power source.
In a formal service announcement, Apple underscored the potential risks inherent in sleeping next to a gadget connected to a charging cable. Such a practice may result in perilous outcomes, including fire outbreaks, electric shocks, physical harm, and damage to the phone or property. The technology giant recommended that individuals charge their phones using a connected cable in areas that are well-ventilated.
The rapid overheating of a device is a genuine concern when it is charged beneath a blanket or a pillow. Apple’s communication on the matter emphasized, “It is ill-advised to rest upon a device, power adapter, or wireless charger, or to position them beneath covers, pillows, or one’s body while they are connected to a power source.”
“During usage or charging, it is advisable to place your iPhone, the power adapter, and any wireless charging apparatus in a location with good air circulation,” the advisory continued. The tech behemoth concluded the service announcement with a caution aimed at individuals with physical conditions affecting their sensitivity to heat.
Moreover, Apple cautioned users against using third-party chargers, as the utilization of certain inexpensive alternatives could escalate the risk of fires. These unauthorized chargers often lack the comprehensive safety standards upheld by Apple’s official products. Instead, Apple suggested opting for chargers equipped with ‘Made for iPhone’ cables that adhere to globally recognized safety protocols.
Apple clarified that power adapters compliant with USB 2.0 or subsequent iterations, coupled with adherence to pertinent national and international safety standards, can be deemed safe for usage. However, adapters that fail to meet these requisite safety standards pose a substantial threat to life and well-being.
Notably, avoiding charging one’s device during sleep is not the sole precaution recommended by Apple. The company also implored users to refrain from charging devices in close proximity to liquids and to promptly replace damaged chargers. The advisory further emphasized, “Engaging with impaired cables or chargers, or charging devices in the presence of moisture, carries the potential for fire outbreaks, electric shocks, physical harm, or harm to the iPhone and other assets.”