Belkin is voluntarily recalling its Portable Wireless Charger + Stand Special Edition which has been sold in Apple stores and online on Apple and Belkin’s websites due to the danger and fire safety. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, no incidents or injuries were linked to the charger, and the malfunction should only apply to chargers sold between July 2020 and October 2020.
The wireless charging stand has a 10,000 mAh power capacity and can charge at 10W speeds for phones that support it, but a problem with the “power source” can cause the device to overheat and make it feel vulnerable or shock people. Belkin advises anyone who has purchased the device to stop using it and unplug it from the power supply. The company will also issue refunds to anyone who is a charger affected.
In the grand scheme of Apple’s iPhones, wireless charging has only been available since the launch of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in 2017. Apple announced AirPower at the same event, a wireless charging tray that was supposed to charge multiple devices simultaneously, but it was eventually canceled because it did not meet Apple’s ‘high standards’. Rumors later pointed to problems with overheating the charging coils of the device as part of the motivation to cancel Apple. That being said, wireless charging is harder than it seems, and Belkin’s recall is another example of problems that can arise in a deceptively simple product.
If you have a charger affected by the recall, you can submit a form to request a refund at Belkin’s support site.