Smartphone safety incidents draw attention
A recent Weibo post from @FlightAttendantNetwork caused an uproar online and was quickly shared on social networks such as Renren and QQ Zone. The girl in the photo was beautiful and full of vitality, but her young life was lost due to receiving a phone call while charging her device, which resulted in an electric shock.
This is not an isolated case. On July 8, a man in Jilin also suffered an electric shock accident while using his charging iPhone; although he survived, he was at risk of "brain death". On July 9, a man in Chongqing experienced a sudden explosion of his phone in the middle of the night, startling an entire building’s residents...
Similar incidents have also occurred abroad: not long ago, a man in the UK plugged in his iPod charger, which immediately began smoking and then exploded moments later, resulting in him being electrocuted and sent to hospital; an 18-year-old girl in Switzerland suffered third-degree burns on her thigh when her Samsung phone suddenly exploded in her pocket...
Although the causes of these consecutive smartphone-related accidents are still under investigation, the public has growing concerns about whether it is dangerous to make or receive calls while a phone is charging.
How can phones turn into "hand grenades"?
Since the era of non-smartphones, reports of phones exploding or catching fire during charging have occasionally appeared in the news. With the popularity of smartphones and the varying quality of accessories on the market, how to use phones safely has become essential knowledge for "smartphone users".
According to investigations by this author, the general consensus in China’s industry is that making or receiving calls on a charging phone is generally very low risk if the charger is original or certified. However, talking while charging can cause the phone’s temperature to rise sharply, increasing the risk of damage, burning, or even explosions. Using non-standard or uncertified chargers significantly raises the chances of turning a phone into a “hand grenade”.
Experts explain that the output voltage of a typical phone charger is only around 5 volts, while the standard voltage of a phone battery is 3.7 volts. In general, direct current voltages above 36 volts can be harmful to the human body. Even if there is a leakage from the phone casing, output voltages below 5 volts are not dangerous.
Some worry that internal short circuits in chargers may connect high-voltage parts to the phone, causing electrocution. In reality, legitimate chargers are equipped with circuit protection and typically do not short circuit. Even in the case of a short circuit, 220 volts would instantly burn out the charger, preventing any current from reaching the phone. Therefore, the chance of being electrocuted while answering a call during charging is extremely low, though not entirely impossible.
Substandard batteries and chargers are the culprits
The author found on the website of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce that as early as May 7, 2012, the Consumers Association published an article titled "Uncertified CCC Phone Chargers Pose Major Safety Hazards", warning consumers that substandard phone batteries and chargers are potential "hand grenades" around them.
Currently, the market is flooded with uncertified universal power adapters, especially phone chargers, many of which fail to meet safety standards and could result in electric shocks, fires, burns, and other dangers to users.
Incidents caused by substandard accessories are not limited to China. According to U.S. media statistics, between 2003 and 2005, there were 80 reported cases of phone explosions or spontaneous combustion in the United States, most of which were caused by the use of unqualified batteries or chargers. While the frequency of such incidents has decreased since 2005 with the advancement of phone technology, the hidden danger of phones turning into "hand grenades" in the smartphone era has not been completely eliminated.
Who bears the safety responsibility?
After the incident, smartphone manufacturers issued a statement regarding the "flight attendant electrocution death", expressing deep sorrow over the unfortunate event and extending heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. They stated they would conduct a thorough investigation and fully cooperate with relevant authorities. However, the statement did not specify clear responsibilities or compensation.
The family of the deceased insists that the phone was purchased through official channels and was a qualified product, but the origin of the charger remains uncertain. Observers pointed out that several smartphone incidents were likely caused by substandard accessories, but the tragic consequences should not be borne solely by consumers.
Firstly, smartphone manufacturers should recognize that although the cause of the accident might be substandard accessories from other manufacturers, one key reason why counterfeit accessories are widespread is that phone accessories are easily worn out and official replacements are too expensive. Therefore, apart from issuing cold disclaimers in manuals, manufacturers should consider offering more affordable and convenient accessory replacement services for long-time customers to improve safety rather than shifting all responsibility to users.
Secondly, market regulatory bodies should take stronger responsibility for supervising the mixed-quality accessory market, increasing penalties, and preventing unsafe counterfeit products from entering circulation. Even if unsafe products are rare, once an accident occurs, it is a 100% tragedy for the affected family or individual.
Lastly, consumers themselves should consciously purchase and use legitimate phones and accessories, taking responsibility for their own safety. In daily use of phones and other electrical devices, users should also pay attention to details and cultivate good safety habits, particularly regarding electricity usage.