You are in > manchester.com  > News > Apple recalls laptop batteries

Business

Apple recalls laptop batteries

25/08/2006

Apple Computer is recalling 1.8 million batteries used in two models of its laptops after receiving complaints about overheating from its customers.

The move, which affects Apple's iBook G4 and Powerbook G4 notebooks sold between October 2003 and August 2006, is thought to represent the second-largest recall in the history of the US consumer electronics industry.

Apple's decision to recall the lithium-ion batteries comes after the world's largest personal computer manufacturer, Dell, announced last week that it was recalling more than four million batteries from its laptops following similar reports of overheating.

According to US safety officials, the batteries used by Apple are manufactured by Sony, which also supplies similar batteries to Dell.

Apple said that it had received nine complaints about overheating from its laptop users, while US regulators said that two of the consumers had received minor burns from their machines.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the Californian company intended to recall 1.1 million batteries from its notebook computers sold in America and a further 700,000 batteries from laptops sold overseas.

Apple has said that it will replace the affected batteries free of charge.

In a statement, the company said: "We discovered that some Sony batteries in previous models of PowerPC-based iBooks and PowerBooks do not meet Apple's standards for safety and performance."

"Our number one priority is to recall and replace the affected batteries free of charge."

Like Dell, Apple has stressed that it does not expect the recall to have any "material financial impact" on its business.

News of the recall will, however, worry Sony, which has warned that the two recalls could cost the firm between 20 and 30 billion yen.

© Adfero Ltd