Apple iPhones are 'now EXPLODING' - should you be worried?

Apple is investigating a number of reports that iPhones have started to overheat, explode or catch fire, following issues with the lithium-ion battery inside the device.

Unsubstantiated reports have described an iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 6 Plus catching fire over the last few weeks.

Chinese media today reported an iPhone 7 exploded while the owner was using the smartphone to record a video.

According to unconfirmed reports from GizmoChina, the way the man was holding the iPhone allowed flying glass from the screen to hurt his face.

Apple has not issued a statement, but local media claim the iPhone owner has been in touch with his local Apple Store sales team, who have offered to forward details of the explosion to the Cupertino headquarters.

Earlier this month, an iPhone 6 Plus owner has claimed her smartphone burst into flames.

Yvette Estrada described how an iPhone 6 Plus, which was first released back September 2015, spontaneously caught fire.

“I heard a sizzling, then we heard the pop and the whole fire was coming out of the screen,” Ms Estrada told ABC 30.

The panicked iPhone owner said the explosion started a small fire.

Ms Estrada's husband put it out by throwing the burning Apple iPhone into a sink.

The firefighters arrived at the iPhone owner's home in Fresno, California around 3:00am to discover “ash, debris, and a melted phone.” 

The Apple smartphone was reportedly so hot that it damaged the dresser beside the bed, as well as a pair of glasses and two Apple Watch stands.

"What if this would have been underneath my pillow or if I was on the phone? My face would be burned," she told the US news network.

"Hopefully they can fix this, and they can compensate my new phone or do something for me because they have to do right."

Apple has offered Yvette Estrada a new stand for the Watch, a charger and a free replacement of the iPhone 6 Plus.

According to ABC 30, Apple also offered her an upgrade to the iPhone 7 – but she would have had to pay for the handset.

Apple's woes are clearly on an entirely different scale to its main rival, Samsung.

The South Korean firm has discontinued the Galaxy Note 7, following reports that replacement devices issued in the South Korean firm's worst ever recall are now exploding.

In a statement, the company told customers "with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device."

Samsung had previously assured the public it had identified and resolved the problem with the batteries that affected one Galaxy Note 7 is every 42,000 units.

However, more reports of replacement devices deemed safe by the technology firm bursting into flames have emerged in the last few days.

These fires suggest Samsung has failed to fix a problem that has already hurt its brand and threatens to derail a recovery in its mobile business.

Last week, Southwest Airlines has confirmed one of its planes – scheduled to fly from Louisville, Kentucky to Baltimore, Maryland – had to be evacuated before take-off on Wednesday because of the incident.

Samsung told Reuters it was investigating reports of "heat damage issues" and would take immediate action to fix any problems in line with measures approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"If the Note 7 is allowed to continue it could lead to the single greatest act of brand self-destruction in the history of modern technology," said Eric Schiffer, brand strategy expert and chairman of Reputation Management Consultants.

"Samsung should arrest the sale of Note 7's and protect the safety of their clients before profits and ultimately as a byproduct protect Samsung. 

"Samsung needs to take a giant write-down and cast the Note 7 to the engineering hall of shame next to the Ford Pinto."