A rather alarming post showed up on Reddit this Wednesday. A user shares a video of his MacBook Pro still spewing smoke after it exploded. He also explains how it all happened:
“Yesterday afternoon my MacBook Pro exploded during normal use. It was on my lap, plugged in, and suddenly started to spew smoke out both sides. I quickly placed it on the floor where it popped, the smoke increased, and it caught fire. Toxic smelling smoke filled my house triggering smoke and CO alarms. No one was injured, thankfully, but there was some damage to my home. The situation could have been much worse – imagine if I had been on a plane.”
The user ‘Whitepandamusic‘, as is his username on Reddit, states that he took the notebook to an Apple store. He adds that “They understood the severity of the situation but said nothing could be done until it spent 24 hours in a fire-proof safe and that they’d call me with a plan/update.”
After the 24 hours were up, he contacted them again to learn what will happen. He shares that they’ve “escalated” the issue and will receive information within five days.
It is unclear as to what caused this issue. Reddit user ‘Whitepandamusic‘ didn’t report anything that would indicate a problem, like a swollen battery for example. Common symptoms of a swollen battery include unclickable trackpad, or a visible separation of the lower case from the enclosure. If you notice such symptoms in your Mac, we highly recommend that you take your device to an authorized Apple Store for proper examination. The same thing applies for your iPad, iPhone and iWatch as well.
So far, it appears that this case is an isolated issue, but we’ve yet to hear about what exactly caused this battery explosion. While it is unlikely that this is caused by a defect in Mac devices, some users don’t rule it out entirely. We’ll monitor the situation to see what Apple has to say about this. But from the looks of it, users have no reason to panic.
Battery failure, and in this case – fire, usually happens if the battery is too old, damaged, overheating or overcharged. That’s why it is important to pay close attention to your device’s condition and don’t overcharge it. If your Mac often feels hot and it’s been established that it’s all within reasonable levels, it might be a good idea to invest in a cooling pad. Nevertheless, don’t be afraid to consult with an authorized service specialist if you have any concerns about your Mac notebook or another Apple product.
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