Apple says it’s not to blame over exploding iPhone claims

Tech giant Apple has responded to claims the screens of several iPhone devices in Europe have mysteriously exploded, allegedly leaving some users with eye injuries from flying glass.

The company’s defense comes as a teenager in Belgium also says his device allegedly exploded in his hands, following similar claims from a number of users in France who have demanded Apple provide an explanation.

Apple said in a statement to the French news service AFP that it has observed no evidence the exploding screens were caused by overheating batteries, instead offering the explanation the incidents occurred due to “external force”.

“To date, there are no confirmed battery overheating incidents for iPhone 3GS and the number of reports we are investigating is in the single digits,” the company said.

“The iPhones with broken glass that we have analysed to date show that in all cases the glass cracked due to an external force that was applied to the iPhone.”

The company previously said the incidents were “isolated”, but at least 10 French customers have complained of the same exploding screen phenomenon, with the latest incident occurring in Belgium.

At least one customer has claimed to have suffered an eye injury as a result of the explosion, with the oldest victim an 80-year-old pensioner from the suburbs of Paris.

The large number of incidents has sparked an investigation by the European Commission’s official watchdog. Apple’s French commercial director, Michel Coulomb, met with consumer affairs minister Herve Novelli last week in order to discuss a similar investigation launched by the country’s official agencies.

He seemed to affirm Apple’s statement, but also said it was too early to tell whether the damage had been caused by a manufacturing fault or prior damage by the user.

“The first results show, according to Apple management, that the iPhones weren’t damaged by a battery defect leading to an explosion, but that there had been a prior shock that cracked the screens,” the minister said in a statement.

The company said it must first receive the cracked devices before it can undergo a thorough investigation. The European Commission has recommend its 27 member nations be on the look out for similar occurrences, but has played down the need for a product recall.