USA TODAY US Edition

iPhone 6S battery woes worse than first thought

The faulty devices shut down abruptly

- Eli Blumenthal @eliblument­hal USA TODAY

Apple’s iPhone 6S battery issue is larger than the company first thought.

The problem: iPhone 6S devices that shut down the phones abruptly. After announcing an exchange program last month for certain phones, Apple said Tuesday that the issue may extend beyond phones manufactur­ed in September or October 2015.

“A small number of customers outside of the affected range have also reported an unexpected shutdown,” the iPhone maker wrote in a posting on the company’s Chinese support page.

Apple notes that some phones shut down “under normal conditions in order for the iPhone to protect its electronic­s” but that it would be releasing a software update next week to garner more informatio­n.

It is also exploring a possible software fix in a future version of iOS.

The issue seems to be affecting iPhone 6S phones purchased around the world during that time period, with the company setting up a support page for users to check their serial numbers to see if their phone is one of the bad ones.

The company stresses that the issue poses no safety risk to users.

Apple declined to comment on how many phones are affected.

The problem stems from a component in the battery that was “exposed to controlled ambient air” for longer than it should have been before it was put into the battery packs.

Those with iPhone 6S phones who have been having issues can go to their local Apple Store or an authorized service provider, as well as retailers such as Best Buy.

If it is determined that your phone is one of the affected units, the company will swap out the battery free of charge.

However, those with other issues, such as cracked screens, will need to pay to have those problems fixed before the battery can be replaced.

 ?? KYLE LOONEY, REVIEWED.COM ?? A component in the battery was exposed to air for longer than it should have been.
KYLE LOONEY, REVIEWED.COM A component in the battery was exposed to air for longer than it should have been.

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