Fake Apple chargers may seem like a cheaper option than shelling out for official cables at the Apple Store, but they could end up killing you.
Electrical Safety First put 50 lookalike Apple chargers to the test only to find that 49 of them, or 98 percent, failed UK electrical safety tests.
The majority of the chargers the organisation tested were found to be so shoddily build or contained sub-standard components that they had the potential to deliver a severe or even lethal electric shock.
And these dodgy chargers could not only fry your iPhone’s inner workings but also cause connected devices to overheat and explode.
At best, the fake Apple chargers are likely to only deliver a weak charge thereby taking a lot longer to fill up a battery pack.
Unfortunately, 1.8 million of these fake chargers are purchased per year in the UK, so there’s a good chance you could be sharing an office or train carriage with someone charging their iPhone with a charger that doesn’t comply to UK electrical standards.
“When you buy a fake, at best you could damage your phone but at worst you could be putting your life, your family and your home at risk,” warned Martyn Allen, technical director at Electrical Safety First.
But there are ways to spot fake chargers. Glossy or shiny plug pins with an uneven finish are a giveaway that the charger isn’t legitimate, while missing markings and sub-standard materials can show up fake chargers.
And keep an eye out for the ‘CE’ mark, checking that it’s genuine and that the charger feels like the correct weight and construction of a legitimate Apple charger.
While a cheap charger may seem like a good option in the short-term, the risks appear to outweigh the savings. So if you’re in doubt, head to an Apple Store instead.
Related: Apple iPhone X review
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.