OtterBox has confirmed that a percentage of original OtterSpot wireless chargers may experience battery swelling. The company reassured customers that while some issues have been reported, there’s no danger in the swelling charging stations thanks to “internal safeguards” that prevent major malfunctions, meaning that devices presumably won’t explode or catch fire. The problem is only reportedly present in OtterSpots sold during a small window of 2019 when the stackable charging devices were first released.
Customers who purchased the original run of OtterSpots between July and August 2019 may notice the issue in their devices. The problem may be more prominent in chargers “under multi-stack and higher temperature conditions,” OtterBox said in a statement to The Verge. Despite the issue, OtterBox hasn’t recalled any devices, but the company is willing to replace OtterSpots that are experiencing the issue.
OtterBox has given a list of serial numbers for devices that could be defective, so even if an owner isn’t currently seeing any signs of battery swelling, it’s not a bad idea to check and see if a device is at risk. The company says that if an OtterSpot’s serial number starts with 229, 250, or 259, the device could be at risk. Those with defective charging stations can call the company’s customer service phone number (1-855-688-7269) and request a free replacement.
Luckily, it seems as if there won’t be too many affected devices as OtterBox confirmed that the OtterSpot was sold at limited retailers when it first launched. This means that the largest OtterBox retailers such as the Apple Store, Best Buy, and Target wouldn’t have sold any of the defective chargers, giving some peace of mind to many owners who purchased their devices through major outlets. It’s still not a bad idea to double-check the serial number to make sure that older charging stations won’t be affected, even if it was purchased through big retailers.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.