Domestic Apple distributors did not expect that the successive incidents of pager and walkie talkie explosions in Lebanon would have an impact on them.
Recently, more than one Apple distributor told Interface News that in the early stages of the launch of the iPhone 16 series, there were widespread rumors that "Apple phones will explode". Although the main purchasing group for Apple phones is not the audience for such rumors, they are still concerned that the rumors may spread too widely, making the future of the iPhone 16 series even more uncertain.
On multiple short video platforms, some self media and individual users have cut unverified videos, creating a gimmick that Apple phones will be remotely detonated. The related videos of terms such as "iPhone 16 steel case battery explosion" and "Apple phone being remotely detonated" are quite popular. Although many official media outlets have publicly denied the rumors, these eye-catching keywords are still repeatedly spread, especially among the middle-aged and elderly population.
Where did the rumor that Apple phones would explode come from?
The earliest news from social media platform X was that several devices involved in the recent Lebanese electronic device explosion were iPhones, but it has not been verified by mainstream media. The Israeli media Jerusalem Post mentioned that "unofficial reports from foreign media indicate that iPhones, cameras, IC-V82 radios, and other devices were also detonated," but no source was provided in the original text.
At present, there is no official explanation for the cause of the explosion of the above-mentioned electronic devices worldwide. A more authoritative theory is that detonators were installed in advance during the manufacturing or supply process, and the operator detonated them remotely.
At almost the same time, a video of an iPhone being detonated also circulated on the internet, but after verification by the Global Times' column "Geng Zhige", the video originated from an American technology blogger. He made a high-voltage pulse generator that can cause damage to objects through high-voltage current. Netizens requested to conduct destructive tests on this device using items such as mobile phones, including the first generation Apple phone, rather than the phone itself detonating.
Another reason for speculation is that the iPhone 16 series will upgrade its battery case to stainless steel material this year. A blogger found that during the disassembly of the iPhone 16 Pro, the battery leaked and generated heat. Some people interpret it as a steel shell that is less likely to dissipate heat and can easily cause battery explosions.
But a developer from a mobile phone manufacturer told Interface News that the safety of a battery does not depend on its shell material, but on multiple factors such as battery design, materials, production processes, usage conditions, and protection mechanisms. From a technical perspective, lithium batteries may indeed encounter risks such as short circuits and overcharging, but mobile phone manufacturers usually incorporate multiple safety protection measures in battery design, such as overcharge protection, short circuit protection, etc. Users do not need to overly worry about the battery safety of legitimate mobile phone manufacturers. In addition, steel shells are easier to improve heat dissipation efficiency and facilitate disassembly and maintenance in the later stage.
Steel shell batteries have been widely used in various electronic devices, such as TWS earphones, smart homes, smartwatches, etc., and are not exclusively used by Apple. However, Apple devices are mostly manufactured within China and require safety certification processes such as China Compulsory Certification (CCC) before being launched in China. "Implanting explosive devices under one's nose is a pipe dream," the above-mentioned person pointed out.
Interface News inquired with Apple's official customer service hotline about the battery leakage video, and the response was that they could not confirm the authenticity of the online message. However, Apple's products undergo strict quality inspection processes before leaving the factory, and the country does not allow the sale of products with non compliant quality.
As for why the rumor of "Apple phone will explode" can be widely spread, a person who was responsible for the operation of Tiktok said that this kind of video does not directly conclude that Apple phone will explode, but combines many videos from unknown sources to cut and speculate vaguely, which makes it difficult for the platform to define whether it is a "rumor mongering" behavior or to intervene. But if the relevant remarks cause obvious panic, the platform will not sit idly by.
The explosion of electronic devices in Lebanon undoubtedly drew public attention to technological safety issues, but when it comes to information related to personal safety, it is believed that official channels' voices are clearly better than creating and spreading panic.