Other Is collecting iPhones a bad idea? Are old batteries dangerous?

[The Man]

The ONLY model I had batteries swell on was the iPhone 5 and it did it three times. Batteries were original OEM from Apple. Any service I've ever gotten on a iPhone has been from Apple.

It would seem that this issue is a particular affliction for the iPhone 5.

Ha, my iPhone 5 did it too, as I've said. So maybe it wasn't the fast charging but something was wrong with the battery.
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PS. During the last battery replacement I was told by the Apple genius that the battery inside the iPhone 5 has a protective sleeve. It's this sleeve that contains any battery swelling. As long as it's not punctured everything is safe. I have to assume that this is also the case with the batteries on the 5s and up and it probably is the case with the 4 and the 4s, although I do not know.

I replaced my iPhone 5 battery myself after it swelled up -- it was pressing against the LCD. After letting the iPhone sit for a few months, the swelling subsided. Then I replaced it. And yes, the sleeve was puffed up like a balloon. It felt like there was air in there. I'm unsure if the replacement battery from iFixit is as safe as Apple original, though.

 

[5105973]

Good to know. I was at work when I started reading this thread. Now I'm home, and have inspected our old phones. 2x 4S, 2x 5S, and two 7s, and the iPad mini 4. Most of them have takin a bit of a beating, but no puffing, so that's good. I run a couple of 3S 5000mah packs for my R/C's, you don't want to beat them up too much. Did you guys drop your phone, get it wet, or anything like that? I guess I am just surprised to hear of an iPhone doing that, so please don't take my questions personally, I am just curious.

No abuse like that. But I think the fact my dad kept his iPhone 5 charging in the Mophie battery case had something to do with it. He probably needed to just go in and have the battery replaced. When I bought him an iPhone 8 Plus to replace that 5, I told him how to maintain the battery life on it better. But he’s 83 and stuck in lockdown like the rest of us, so the phone is probably not getting normal use and a normal discharge and charge cycle. Unlike me, he uses his landline for conversations.

My mother-in-law has used her iPhone 5 a lot but it also sat on its charging dock a lot.

 

[The Man]

No abuse like that. But I think the fact my dad kept his iPhone 5 charging in the Mophie battery case had something to do with it. He probably needed to just go in and have the battery replaced. When I bought him an iPhone 8 Plus to replace that 5, I told him how to maintain the battery life on it better. But he’s 83 and stuck in lockdown like the rest of us, so the phone is probably not getting normal use and a normal discharge and charge cycle. Unlike me, he uses his landline for conversations.

My mother-in-law has used her iPhone 5 a lot but it also sat on its charging dock a lot.

Yeah, constantly keeping the iPhone charged is not great. I had notebook batteries ruined because I kept them on the charger too long. After using my notebook as a "desktop" for so long, the battery didn't hold a charge for long anymore. Batteries need to be used. You don't want to keep them on charger for too long. And you don't want to drain the battery to 0%. That last one also ruined a notebook battery when I constantly did that. Eventually, the capacity went totally down the drain. Lesson learned.

 

[MrJM]

I had a 3GS a while back that had to go in the recycling as the battery had ballooned. Completely bust the front of the phone!

 

[5105973]

Yeah, constantly keeping the iPhone charged is not great. I had notebook batteries ruined because I kept them on the charger too long. After using my notebook as a "desktop" for so long, the battery didn't hold a charge for long anymore. Batteries need to be used. You don't want to keep them on charger for too long. And you don't want to drain the battery to 0%. That last one also ruined a notebook battery when I constantly did that. Eventually, the capacity went totally down the drain. Lesson learned.

Yeah I ruined my MacBook Pro battery either keeping it on the charger or letting it drain down to zero.

 

[Koobs]

I had a 3GS a while back that had to go in the recycling as the battery had ballooned. Completely bust the front of the phone!

I had the same phone do the same thing. Kind of sad because it was my first Iphone and I wanted to keep it.

 

[Spudlicious]

Collectibles should ideally be inert in the manner of coins, stamps, and fossils.Whereas it should be possible to remove iPhone batteries, I think the collection would then be fairly pointless.

 

[biffuz]

No iPhones, but I do have a collection of older notebooks, down to early '90s, and a few phones and other stuff. I am not even sure how much things I have with batteries. Now I really want to check them all...

 

[now i see it]

My iPhone 5 battery swelled and pushed off the screen too. It seems that these batteries were duds. I bet millions of them did it too- kept under the radar- no class action lawsuit

 

[1rottenapple]

I’ve read before that it’s potentially dangerous to store old iPhones / devices due to the old batteries that are inside (due to potential combustion).

If they’re at 0% do they pose a threat of eventually combusting? What are the odds? Is it better to remove the batteries?

What will happen to all of the iPhone 2G collectors?

Thanks in advance!
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I’m considering a project like this. Will most likely remove the battery but would be nice to leave it in.

https://i.redd.it/po9l51kjx5821.jpg

Never read they are dangerous. Your post is the first I’ve seen

 

[The Man]

My iPhone 5 battery swelled and pushed off the screen too. It seems that these batteries were duds. I bet millions of them did it too- kept under the radar- no class action lawsuit

Mmm, yes, strange. It probably was a widespread thing. But the iPhone 5 were probably not used that long by many people when Apple went 64bit with A7 and TouchID. Those were the things to have. And the swelling occurred after a few years.

 

[bushman4]

Collecting old iPhones
They really have little value $$$$ unless they’re sealed in the original packaging
They may come in handy as a standby iPhone in the event your iPhone breaks
As for being dangerous, It depends how you store them Heat and cold bdon’t agree with them
Remember you should charge the battery every so often as the battery dies quicker with no charge over long periods of time

 

[44267547]

Collecting old iPhones
They really have little value $$$$ unless they’re sealed in the original packaging

That’s a bit off. Look at eBay for example. Even old-er iPhones in original packaging doesn’t necessarily mean it holds it’s value. And I’d say it’s probably depends on what older iPhone you’re referring to, even if it is an iPhone 6s it’s original packaging, it still would probably sell for almost as much as an used/excellent condition iPhone 6s. Older phones in original OEM packaging really doesn’t mean anything, unless it was like a ‘first edition‘ or a one off device that was limited to begin with.

 

[ruslan120]

Was thinking of the original iPhone 2G in original packaging, i.e. “what happens down the line, can the battery degrade and cause the box to combust?” but realizing it’s applicable to all models that people keep around for future use.

That would majorly suck for those who paid thousands for the original iPhone 2G, 4GB model down the line.

Thanks a ton for the responses so far by the way. Seems like it was a good discussion to bring up. For the purposes of my project I will be removing the batteries, and now I’m just following along for the interesting conversation.

 

[MrJM]

Was thinking of the original iPhone 2G in original packaging, i.e. “what happens down the line, can the battery degrade and cause the box to combust?” but realizing it’s applicable to all models that people keep around for future use.

That would majorly suck for those who paid thousands for the original iPhone 2G, 4GB model down the line.

Thanks a ton for the responses so far by the way. Seems like it was a good discussion to bring up. For the purposes of my project I will be removing the batteries, and now I’m just following along for the interesting conversation.

That’s cool!