A new report circulating online suggests that newer iPhones may be at risk of a rare battery swelling issue , particularly during flights. Several users have described the incident where their iPhone’s battery visibly swelled during the flight journey and quickly returned to normal as soon as the plane landed. This rare issue has added a question mark to the brand’s manufacturing quality and control.
Some users report iPhone battery swelling during flights
Many iPhone users have recently reported a similar battery concern with their devices. One widespread problem is affecting the newer iPhone models, especially during air travel. An iPhone 16 Pro Max user has reported that the device’s battery recently swelled mid-flight . This led to the back panel separating from the device body. However, the gadget went back to its original shape in no time after the plane touched the ground.
Another user with an iPhone 15 model reports a similar incident. They note that the battery swelled during two separate flights and then normalized after landing. However, the user went for a battery replacement to avoid potential future problems. And surprisingly, the battery replacement solved the problem, and the issue reportedly stopped occurring.
Cabin pressure and lithium-ion battery type may be the reason behind this issue
These incidents have fueled concern that newer iPhones ‘ batteries may be more sensitive to changes in cabin pressure. This may be more evident on older aircraft that may not maintain pressure as consistently as newer planes. While there are no official remarks on the case yet, the commentators suggest that trapped gas inside some lithium-ion batteries could be a main reason behind the issue.
The gas present inside the battery remains compressed and unnoticed under normal atmospheric pressure. However, at cruising altitude, reduced cabin pressure could allow the gas to expand and therefore cause the battery to swell temporarily. Once the plane lands and the cabin pressure normalizes, the battery also goes back to its original shape. However, this issue seems to be affecting only a handful of newer iPhone models. Users facing the issue may document it to get a battery replacement from Apple .
