Apple Watch SE Fire Incident Cases Increase to 13
Consumers Anxious Due to Lack of Product Guidance or Official Statement
Victims Informed 'No Compensation Policy for Physical and Mental Damage'
The Apple Watch SE became hot, causing the display next to the crown to turn yellow and burnt (Source=Reddit)
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Despite continuous reports of Apple Watch SE fire incidents, Apple has not issued any compensation measures or statements, causing anxiety among buyers.
According to Reddit and iPhone cafes on the 24th, the number of Apple Watch SE fire cases has increased to 12 in South Korea and 1 overseas. The Apple Watch SE models that have experienced fire damage so far are the 40mm GPS and cellular models, with the same issue occurring in the Nike Edition.
This month, Apple Watch SE users have experienced the watch heating up and the top of the watch display turning yellow and burning. In particular, many victims suffered wrist burns due to ignition occurring while wearing the watch. The common factor is that the display developed yellow scorch marks as it heated up during charging or use. The point of ignition on the Apple Watch SE is estimated to be above the display connector, likely a hardware defect related to the Taptic Engine or battery.
There have also been cases where the device became unresponsive without yellow scorch marks on the display. Among the 13 cases, the 3 most recently reported incidents involved the Apple Watch SE overheating and stopping operation during charging or use.
In particular, Apple has not offered any compensation policies other than refunds, citing no compensation policy for consumers who suffered physical or mental harm due to the fire. One Apple Watch SE purchaser stated, "Despite early incidents, Apple’s lack of response is deceptive to consumers," adding, "Apple said there is no policy for damage compensation and responded that they would report it internally."
The Apple Watch SE was released in South Korea on the 29th of last month. The Apple Watch must be worn tightly on the wrist to accurately measure heart rate and other metrics. Many users also wear it while sleeping to track sleep time, which can cause greater damage than smartphone fires. Despite the ongoing fire incidents, Apple has not taken any official action such as announcements or sales suspension.
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