So Why Do iPhone Batteries Explode?
So if it’s not the charger or the cable, why do we hear stories of iPhone batteries exploding?
The most common scenario where this happens is third-party battery replacements. While you may save a few bucks by getting your battery replaced at that local sketchy electronics shop, you’re taking a serious risk by doing so. Not only are the batteries themselves potentially substandard, but modern batteries also include electronic circuitry which helps to handle the charging and power regulation.
In fact, the problem with counterfeit third-party batteries has gotten so bad that Apple may soon be locking down replacements to ensure that they’re done properly at Apple-authorized repair shops. There’s already a feature in iOS 13 that will let you know if you have an unauthorized battery, but for now at least this is just informational.
While third-party batteries are the number one cause of exploding iPhones by a sizeable margin, there is also the rare possibility of defective or damaged charging circuitry in a particular iPhone that prevents it from knowing when to stop charging the battery, and of course if you let your iPhone get overheated by doing things like leaving it in direct sunlight or in a hot car, that can certainly contribute to battery problems.
Along the same lines, it’s always good to charge your iPhone in a cooler environment, and remove any bulky cases, especially when using fast charging, which will heat up the battery even more. Even though the risk of battery fires from charging is extremely small, these are good practices anyway as following them will help to prolong the life of your iPhone’s rechargeable battery.