What’s the last thing you do every night before your head hits the pillow? For many of us, the last act we do before drifting off into dreamland is plugging in our smartphone. No one likes to wake up and find that their smartphone battery is down to 2% and they have to leave the house for work in a few minutes. This will quickly ruin your day.
Apple’s support page warns iPhone users not to charge their phone overnight under a pillow or blanket.
Apple has issued a warning to iPhone users about charging an iPhone overnight directly on a support page titled “Important iPhone Safety Information.” On the support page, Apple warns: “…do not sleep on any device, power adapter, or wireless charger, or place it under a blanket, pillow, or your body while it is connected to a power source. Keep your iPhone, power adapter, and any wireless charger in a well-ventilated area when using or charging. Take special care if your physical condition affects your ability to sense heat against the body. .
Nobody likes spending $19 on a new iPhone charging brick
Another warning on the support page covers a different aspect of billing that has led to serious consequences in the past. Many of us lose our power adapters and charging cables. The typical response is to go to the Apple Online Store and wonder why you should pay $19 for a new charging brick and another $19 for a cable. After all, you just saw a no-name cable on sale at a 24-hour convenience store for $4.99. Since Apple and many other manufacturers no longer include charging bricks in the box of their phones, new iPhone users might consider shelling out a little more money for the official Apple accessory.
Never use your charging brick or cable if it shows the following signs
Unless low-cost third-party replacements have the MFi (Made for iPhone) badge on the packaging, you should avoid them. Here’s what Apple says about using third-party charging hardware: “You can also charge iPhone with ‘Made for iPhone’ or other third-party cables and power adapters that comply with USB 2.0 or later and regulations applicable national and international safety standards. Other adapters may not meet applicable safety standards, and charging with such adapters could present a risk of death or injury.
Apple adds: “Using damaged cables or chargers, or charging in the presence of moisture, may cause fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to iPhone or other property.” The tech giant wants you to pay attention to the following on your power adapter, as any of these conditions are dangerous and should be considered a sign to purchase a new charging brick:
- The plug or pins of the AC adapter are damaged.
- The charging cable becomes frayed or otherwise damaged.
- The AC adapter is exposed to excessive moisture or liquid has been spilled into the AC adapter.
- The power adapter has been dropped and its housing is damaged.
As a reminder, although these warnings come from Apple, they apply to all smartphones regardless of manufacturer. Yes, some of you may see this as a ploy by Apple, a way to get you to dig into your wallet to buy accessories from Apple or other companies. But as we’ve reported over the years, saving money to buy uncertified third-party charging accessories could end up costing you more than money.
