A new study has claimed that around 99 percent of Apple chargers that are bought online fail basic safety test. UK business watchdog Trading Standards published a report that warned users to prevent from using fake battery chargers available online.
How Apple Chargers Were Investigated
With Apple pricing separately for a charger and a cable, users find online purchase more convenient where they get a charger and a cable together at an affordable price. As a result, most of the Apple chargers are bought from the Internet rather from a brick-and-mortar store. While the ones bought from the physical stores seemed to perform well, those chargers purchased from online ecommerce sites have been found fake, according to BGR.
During the investigation, experts bought 400 Apple chargers from online sellers around the world. They put them through the safety tests to find out how safe they were for common use. The results were shocking. Out of the total number of chargers, 397 failed to stand the safety standards.
How the Apple Chargers Study Was Conducted
It was independent UL Laboratory that took the fundamental electrical safety tests on Apple chargers. "In total, we tested 400 adapters and the results were literally shocking. The overall failure rate exceeded 99 percent," the lab officials stated. "All but three failed our basic safety tests and were fire and shock hazards. Twelve were so poorly designed and constructed that they posed a risk of lethal electrocution to the user."
Trading Standards Chairman Lord Toby Harris, according to CNet, said that criminals were using the online platform to cheat people. He added that they were introducing cheaper Apple chargers deals that might endanger several lives and lead to fire anytime.
Apple is known for its quality services delivered to users and hence such report might stain its image. The revelation might come as a shock to the brand followers but the awareness will ensure people are more conscious whenever they buy Apple chargers or any product from any company online.
