The owner of a Chinese-assembled iPhone 13 Pro, a resident of Heze in eastern China, took a legal route after smoke rose from the device while it was in his hand. This incident was reported by a Chinese technology portal, MyDrivers, which has tracked the case closely as it unfolded in local courts. The event adds to a growing list of consumer complaints about product reliability in a market where popular brands from abroad share space with domestic offerings. The man’s ordeal began with a faulty unit and escalated to a courtroom dispute that touches on consumer rights, warranty obligations, and the responsibilities of sellers in the retail chain that supplies the technology. [Citation: MyDrivers]
According to the plaintiff, the smartphone failed twice within a span of under three months. He asserts that the iPhone 13 Pro was purchased from a local retailer on November 5, 2021, a date that anchors the timeline of subsequent repairs and service interactions. The owner’s narrative emphasizes the ongoing nature of the device’s problems, highlighting a pattern that raised concerns about whether the issues were isolated or symptomatic of broader production faults. The repeated malfunctions prompted the owner to pursue formal remedies, signaling that the device issue was not casually resolved through routine service checks. [Citation: MyDrivers]
In December of that same year, the user reported the emergence of unusual spots on the smartphone’s screen, a symptom that often accompanies internal pressure or display damage. The device was handed back after a repair, and the user accepted the return of the unit with the understanding that the matter had been addressed. Yet, shortly thereafter, the device’s performance deteriorated again, marking a renewed failure that reignited questions about the device’s safety and long-term reliability. The owner claimed that the case heated up to the point of emitting smoke, an alarming development that intensified the demand for a more definitive resolution than another repair could provide. [Citation: MyDrivers]
By January 2022, the situation had become a full-fledged dispute. The plaintiff reported that the iPhone 13 Pro failed once more, and this time the risk to the user’s safety was central to the argument. The owner refused another repair as a response to repeated failures and insisted on replacement with a new device, a demand the retailer resisted. The legal tension during this phase centered on whether the seller should bear the cost of a replacement under warranty terms or whether the repeated malfunctions suggested a fundamental defect that warranted a fresh unit rather than a repair. The court in Heze ultimately weighed the evidence and determined that the device carried quality issues, ordering the seller to replace the smartphone without any additional payment. Apple has not released an official statement about the case as of the latest updates. [Citation: Local Court Records]
Analysts and consumer protection observers have noted a broader trend tying higher-profile gadget failures to overheating and battery stress, particularly within the high-demand segment of smartphones. A review of similar incidents in recent years points to a spectrum of risks associated with battery chemistry, thermal management, and the way devices are tested under real-world conditions. Experts cautioned that both users of Chinese brands and fans of Apple products should remain vigilant about device temperatures, rapid battery drain, and signs that a device might be edging toward unsafe operation. The discussion around this case reflects ongoing conversations about safety standards, warranty practices, and the effectiveness of consumer redress mechanisms across markets that include China, Canada, and the United States. [Citation: Industry Observers]