Apple recalls travel adaptors that could give you a nasty shock
Not quite a global disaster, but Europe, Korea and South America affected
Apple’s just been forced to issue a rare recall, because some of its power adapters could give you an electric shock.
It’s not the power bricks themselves, but the removable plugs that clip onto them. According to Apple, there have only been 12 reported incidents around the world, but that’s been enough to force a global recall for all the affected adaptors.
The recall includes all the two-pronged wall plugs that shipped with Mac and iOS devices between 2003 and 2015 – so quite a few.
The affected models were mainly sold in mainland Europe, Korea, South America, Australia and New Zealand, but anyone outside of those countries should also pay attention – the recall also applies to the World Travel Adapter Kit.
If you’re a frequent traveller, it’s worth checking if your adaptors are affected; if yours has four characters, five characters or no characters printed inside the slot where it attaches to the main Apple power adaptor, it’s time to get in touch with Apple.
The official recall program website has instructions on how to get in touch with Apple support, but you might have to stomach a trip to the Genius bar to swap over your faulty adaptors. The good news is the swap will be free.
Global recalls don’t happen all that often, but lightning seems to have struck twice in the past seven days; it’s barely been a week since Microsoft was forced to recall a massive number of Surface Pro power cords over a fire risk.
Tom Morgan-Freelander
Deputy Editor 
