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Apple watch charger melted and burned my wife!

As Judge Judy says, if something doesn't make sense it's because it isn't true.

Either it isn't an official OEM product (I appreciate you think it is), you've plugged it into the wrong plug or you are the first to encounter this issue since Apple Watch was released 6 odd years ago.

Apple will still help you, because they have awesome customer service.
 
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lordhamster said:
Yes. It absolutely is. It came with one of our apple watches, not sure which...I've had a few generations. This is the exact unit (of course the one on the apple website is less melted looking):

www.apple.com

Apple Accessories for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro

Shop Apple accessories for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. Search by product lines or browse by categories. Buy now with fast, free shipping.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...
This charger and your charger do not look the same at all though. Did Apple ever make a charger with a steel surround that was as shiny as the one in the first post? Maybe. I don't know. Also, even if if we ignore the damage, the surface of the charger looks different all around. I can find a charger onBay for £5 though that looks pretty much exactly like yours.

www.ebay.co.uk

For Apple Watch iWatch 4/3/2/1 Magnetic Charging Cable Wireless Charger 38 42 mm | eBay

The 3.3 ft / 1 m charging cable for Apple watch is easy to connect and perfectly compatible. Features: Magnetic.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
IMG_2388.jpeg

Since you all keep mistrusting his charger-cable; here's mine, that came with a 100% legit series 5 SS.
 
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Some of you really need to go watch some unboxing videos of SS or Edition models before further commenting on the authenticity of this charging cable/puck and make sure it’s from a reliable source. My SS and Ti most certainly both came with a shiny metal surround as well as all three of my wife’s Hermes’ versions. My Al version did not.
 
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Fair enough. Thank you for posting clarification images.

svanstrom said:
What a nice way to say "y'all ignorant because y'all are broke af". 😉
Click to expand...
Some of just us don't bother spending money on things like slightly fancier Apple watches. Go have a look in the traditional watches thread in the pictures gallery.
 
desslr said:
As Judge Judy says, if something doesn't make sense it's because it isn't true.

Either it isn't an official OEM product (I appreciate you think it is), you've plugged it into the wrong plug or you are the first to encounter this issue since Apple Watch was released 6 odd years ago.

Apple will still help you, because they have awesome customer service.
Click to expand...
Not every person who has an issue runs to the internet to talk about their problems. In fact, the majority do not - despite the fact that the most vocal people here are the ones who have issues. But again, your reasoning suggests all or most people post online about every issue they face.

Albeit the OP's issue is rare. However, the basis of your point is invalid and the root of its reasoning is not sound. Sorry Judge Judy?
 
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Apple_Robert said:
If Apple offers to replace your wife, do not accept. More than likely you would get a refurbished wife.
Click to expand...
Ironically, my wife was manufactured just outside of ZhengZhou as well. :) But at this point I'm too lazy to re-install all the apps on a refurbished wife. 🤣

desslr said:
As Judge Judy says, if something doesn't make sense it's because it isn't true.

Either it isn't an official OEM product (I appreciate you think it is), you've plugged it into the wrong plug or you are the first to encounter this issue since Apple Watch was released 6 odd years ago.

Apple will still help you, because they have awesome customer service.
Click to expand...
Someone woke up cranky. :)

As others have pointed out, some versions of the watch COME WITH the stainless steel puck. Also, if you go to buy a second one from the Apple store (for say your travel bag) then you get the stainless one as well. Look at the third photo on the apple site. It is clearly stainless steel exactly like mine:
www.apple.com

Apple Accessories for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro

Shop Apple accessories for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. Search by product lines or browse by categories. Buy now with fast, free shipping.
www.apple.com

In fact other than what is included WITH the, I don't think you can get the all plastic version as a standalone product from Apple.

biffuz said:
I got an aluminium SE and it came with a plastic charger cable**, and I also purchased* a second charger cable** for the office and it's metal.

* actually, I misread the product page and thought it didn't came with a charger cable** at all, so I ordered a second one straight away...
** actually, Apple calls this "cable", not "charger". The "charger" is the thing that goes into the power socket.
Click to expand...

You are correct... Apple refers to this as a "Magnetic Charging Cable." Sorry for using the word "Charger." The insdustry term for such a setup is generally "Inductive Charger" or "Wireless Charger."

Heck, Apple calls the MagSafe puck for the new iPhones a "MagSafe Charger." Functionally it is identical to the watch's "Magnetic Charging Cable." Again... sorry for the confusion on the naming scheme. I think you all knew what part I meant...which I thought should have been clarified by the photo.

The reason I have several of the darn things is that we as a family have had 4 apple watches over the years. Furthermore, pre-covid I was a very frequent traveler and had purchased an additional "Magnetic Charging Cable" from my local Apple store for my travel bag.
 
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theSeb said:
Fair enough. Thank you for posting clarification images.


Some of just us don't bother spending money on things like slightly fancier Apple watches. Go have a look in the traditional watches thread in the pictures gallery.
Click to expand...
As stated by others... not only the "fancier" watches come with the stainless steel puck. If you buy an additional one directly at the apple store you will get the Stainless steel version.

I had a Stainless apple watch in the past, and I have purchased additional "Magnetic Charging Cables" at the local apple stores for our travel bags.

Regardless, I'm certain the Apple Engineers will request it be sent in, and I'd say they are fairly well qualified to determine the authenticity of the unit.
 
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FocusAndEarnIt said:
Not every person who has an issue runs to the internet to talk about their problems. In fact, the majority do not - despite the fact that the most vocal people here are the ones who have issues. But again, your reasoning suggests all or most people post online about every issue they face.

Albeit the OP's issue is rare. However, the basis of your point is invalid and the root of its reasoning is not sound. Sorry Judge Judy?
Click to expand...
Agreed. I posted this for several reasons:
  • I've never seen or heard of this happening before.
  • I post on MacRumors all the time because I'm a complete nerd.
  • Was curious to see if anyone else had experienced such an issue on an out-of-warranty watch.
While I realize the watch is out of warranty, this is an exceptional circumstance that Apple should be aware of at the very least. I hope they take the watch and charger apart to get to the bottom of what could have happened.

Update: I'm still waiting for a call back after being disconnected last night.
 
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under warranty or not, this is potentially a fire hazard... they should take a look at it and take the appropriate actions if necessary.
this might eventually transform into a recall if they find out something important.

one of my friend had like half of his house burned down because of his 10 years old electric dryer. the manufacturer investigated the issue... and they discovered that one of the sensor present in the dryer was malfunctioning... and eventually there was a recall for this sensor.
 
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desslr said:
As Judge Judy says, if something doesn't make sense it's because it isn't true.

Either it isn't an official OEM product (I appreciate you think it is), you've plugged it into the wrong plug or you are the first to encounter this issue since Apple Watch was released 6 odd years ago.

Apple will still help you, because they have awesome customer service.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, couldn't help myself to ignore this comment.

Please explain this:
How to you plug a charger to the wrong plug?
desslr said:
or you are the first to encounter this issue since Apple Watch was released 6 odd years ago.
Click to expand...
Do you have any sort of data to support your assumption?

desslr said:
Apple will still help you, because they have awesome customer service.
Click to expand...
Yes, they have to replace it, both, watch and charger. Not because they have "awesome" customer service, because they need to find the root cause for the issue, and it requires them to obtain the defectives parts.
 
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This seems like the kind of thing Apple would help fix regardless of AppleCare status. Hoping everything works out for you.

desslr said:
As Judge Judy says, if something doesn't make sense it's because it isn't true.

Either it isn't an official OEM product (I appreciate you think it is), you've plugged it into the wrong plug or you are the first to encounter this issue since Apple Watch was released 6 odd years ago.

Apple will still help you, because they have awesome customer service.
Click to expand...
OP has made it clear that the puck came with the watch and that he was using the standard Apple 5W charging brick. OEM products aren't immune to a small number of defective units. Sometimes in ways that aren't immediately apparent like in this case. Not every issue that a unit has needs to be widespread to still be an issue.
 
benshive said:
This seems like the kind of thing Apple would help fix regardless of AppleCare status. Hoping everything works out for you.


OP has made it clear that the puck came with the watch and that he was using the standard Apple 5W charging brick. OEM products aren't immune to a small number of defective units. Sometimes in ways that aren't immediately apparent like in this case. Not every issue that a unit has needs to be widespread to still be an issue.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify:
I'm not certain if this is the EXACT "Magnetic Charging Cable" that was in the box with my wife's watch. But I am certain that it it is an original Apple made product.
 
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