BYE BYE BATTERY

First it was the Samsungs, and now the iPhones are struggling too? iPhone 6S owners have been reporting that their phones are unexpectedly powering down at high battery percentages, or rapidly losing battery. While they are not catching fire or exploding (cough, Samsung), a malfunctioning smartphone is a setback for any student.

“When it’s just on, the battery just starts draining,” freshman Lori Vildibill said of her iPhone 6S.

Some phones may be powering down or losing battery more quickly because they have a different A9 chip. There are two variants of this card, one made by TSMC and one made by Samsung. The Samsung chip supposedly has less battery life than the TSMC chip.

Most of the devices that are shutting down were manufactured between September and October 2016. However, Apple has noted that “a small number of customers outside of the affected range have also reported an unexpected shutdown.”

Still, many students are experiencing no difficulties with their devices. “No problems have occurred [with my device],” sophomore Nicole Manley said.

Students experiencing difficulties with the iPhone 6S can visit a local Apple store or authorized service provider to see if their device is eligible for a battery replacement, which is offered free of charge.