iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models haven't been available long, but a couple of users have reportedly experienced major problems. According to a 9to5Mac report, a Taiwanese iPhone 8 Plus owner claims her device split open while charging, and a Japanese owner of an iPhone 8 Plus claims the handset arrived already cracked open. The tech outlet ifeng includes images of the Taiwanese owner's device in its report.
In the case of the Taiwanese owner, the iPhone 8 Plus was reportedly being charged when the front panel began to bulge and eventually lifted from the body of the device. The owner was reportedly using the Apple-supplied cable and plug adaptor. The incident occurred after five days of ownership, and the device was returned to the original carrier afterward. That device has now reportedly been returned to Apple for investigation.
The Japanese owner tweeted out photos of his iPhone 8 Plus, which he claims came already with a bulging, cracked front panel. According to 9to5Mac's report, Apple is unaware of this type of damage occurring on any other iPhone 8 or 8 Plus.
There are no known explanations for either problem. It's easy to assume the root cause is related to the iPhone 8 Plus' battery, but that's not certain. Considering the Japanese owner claims his device arrived already damaged, a battery issue may not be the primary cause. It's also possible that a third-party charger was used in the Taiwanese owner's case, even though the owner claims she used the Apple-provided plug adaptor and cable. Those kinds of details usually come to light during a full investigation.
If the problem is battery-related, Apple has experience dealing with similar issues. Back in April, the company added another year to the first-generation Apple Watch's warranty to further cover cases of expanded or swollen batteries. Some Apple Watch users reported as far back as November 2016 that the display panels on their devices were lifting or bulging, causing them to be partially detached from the case. Those devices now carry a warranty that extends to three years after the original purchase date.
None of the public images of the iPhone 8 Plus models in question show burn marks or any signs of an explosion. That, combined with the current information available, suggests that other iPhone 8 Plus owners don't need to worry too much yet. This problem hasn't reached Samsung Note 7 status, and these could be isolated incidents with issues that won't affect the majority of iPhone 8 Plus users.
An Apple representative did not provide any more details on the matter to Ars, saying only that the company is looking into these incidents.
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