Apple: iPhone 6s battery problems are due to production error

Apple has stated on a support page that the battery problems that some users of iPhone 6s are experiencing stem from a manufacturing defect. These are phones that were built in September and October 2015.

On a Chinese support page, Apple writes in both English and Chinese that “a small number of iPhone 6s devices contain a battery component that was exposed to controlled ambient air for too long before being built into the battery.” As a result, the quality of these batteries decreases faster than normal, which ensures that the iPhone switches itself off.

The company adds that the devices automatically switch off in certain cases, for example at extremely low temperatures. “Although some users may find this unexpected, this measure should protect the device against a voltage that is too low,” Apple said. After investigation, no other causes were found that could be responsible for the switching off of the devices.

Apple released a repair program on Monday for the devices that are affected by these problems. On a dedicated page, users can enter their device’s serial number to find out if they qualify for a free battery replacement.