Owners of Apple’s new flagship iPhone models are reporting that some devices have problems with the way they can be charged.
The complaint, known as “chargegate” on social media, is that some new models do not start charging automatically when a lightning cable is plugged in if the screen is turned off.
The issue, which is said to affect recently launched XS or XS Max phones, can be remedied by tapping on the screen to wake the phone up. Users also reported having to disconnect and reconnect the cable.
A video posted to the Unbox Therapy channel on YouTube shows vlogger Lewis Hilsenteger demonstrating the issue. In the video Hilsenteger can be seen testing an iPhone X, four XS, and four XS Max phones. Two of the XS phones and three XS Maxs show the problem with charging.
When connecting a cable to an XS Max during the demonstration, Hilsenteger observes that there is “No charge”, adding “It should pop up, of course. If it was charging it even makes a tone, and you see the icon to indicate.” Hilsenteger then taps the phone, the screen lights up, and the tone is heard. “So there’s something to do with the sleep mode or the idle mode that for some reason is blocking the charge current from coming through, or at least the battery from receiving the charge.”
Responding to the video, some reports on social media suggested that people are having intermittent problems with charging their new phones, which are difficult to replicate.
Anthony Davinson (@Antics0708)#ChargeGate @UnboxTherapy My XS Max has the issue, but it’s not consistent. On my testing, 3 out of 10 attempts to charge failed until I woke the phone up. I would lean heavily toward software issue.
October 1, 2018
A change in the way that Apple devices react to having cables inserted was introduced in iOS 11.4.1, which some have speculated may be the source of the problem. The security measure ensured that the lightning port was disabled after the phone had been idle for a period of time. The logic behind the change was to make it harder for thieves or hackers to gain access to the phone.
However, when Apple posted notice about the change in July, it stated: “Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch charges as usual when it’s connected to a USB power adapter.”
Chargegate is not the only “gate” to hit Apple’s most recently released phones. “Beautygate”, the iPhone XS Max’s front-facing selfie camera has been accused of producing pictures with noticeably removed skin blemishes. It is thought to be a result of the smoothing effect of the phone’s noise reduction feature, which is intended to remove grainy elements when pictures are taken in low-light. There is no option to switch off the feature, which some have said resembles the “beauty mode” settings of other manufacturers.
Apple has been approached for comment.
