In what comes as the latest instance of exploding phones, a Reliance JioPhoneunit reportedly exploded in Kashmir while it was charging. While reports indicate that the device burnt and melted owing to what could be a battery issue, the company has called it a “case of intentional sabotage”.
“JioPhones are designed and manufactured with global standards, and each phone goes through stringent quality control process. The said incident has been reported to us. Our initial investigation suggests that this is a case of intentional sabotage. The damage to the device seems to have been intentionally caused. The incident, as well as its timing, has been designed by vested interests to malign the brand. We will take appropriate action based on further investigations,” a Reliance Retail spokesperson told BGR India in an emailed response.
Based on the images of the burnt device, acquired by PhoneRadar, it does appear to be a case of deliberate damage. The entire back panel of the phone, including the camera module, is molten while the front panel appears intact. The report says that the battery appears intact, however, if one looks closely, the label on the battery looks damaged, making it highly improbable for the battery to survive the heat.
JioPhone-explosion-charger
A Reliance LYF distributor reportedly inspected the device, and also pictured the charger. Based on the image, the wire of the charger also appears damaged. While it is not new for phones to explode due to battery malfunction or overcharging, the explosion of the JioPhone could dent the reputation of Reliance Digital which has shot to fame with its ‘effectively priced Rs 0 smart feature phone’. One of the most infamous global recalls took place in 2016 when the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exploded at will due to battery fault.
The report arrives on the heels of the company’s expected pre-booking to resume post-Diwali. After the overwhelming response in August, the company has been struggling to meet the deadline of dispatching the JioPhone units to all those who pre-ordered the 4G VoLTE feature phone. Reliance has assured that it will complete the delivery of about six million units.