Apple has been accused of selling dodgy USB-C charge cables, while owners of new HP and Lenovo PC’s in Australia are having to go to J Car to buy a new USB-C to HDMI cable.
Late last week Apple has a replacement program for a number
of USB-C charge cables it sold last year.
The company says that the recall is based on a “design
issue” that means the cables may stop working correctly.
The recall relates specifically to cables sold during June
2015.
In the case of HP and Lenovo PC’s consumers who have
purchased a Lenovo 900 Yoga or a HP Spectre top end notebook will suddenly find
that their old Micro HDMI cables don’t fit due to the move by PC manufacturers
to start installing HDMI to USB-C technology connectors.
Neither Harvey Norman or JB Hi Fi are currently selling
USB-C to HDMI cables.
The only retailer currently selling these cables is Jaycar
who have a $59 cable in stock from DigiStar.
For Apple owners concerned over their USB C cables – here’s
how to tell if yours is affected:
 Click to enlarge |
“A limited number of Apple USB-C charge cables that were
included with MacBook computers through June 2015 may fail due to a design
issue,” explains Apple.
“As a result, your MacBook may not charge or only charge
intermittently when it’s connected to a power adapter with an effected cable,”
the company continues.
Apple says that all “eligible customers” will receive a new,
redesigned USB-C cable for free.
It’s worth noting that the program also covers USB-C cables
that were sold by Apple as a standalone accessory.
So how do you get a replacement cable? If you’ve already
provided a valid mailing address during MacBook registration, you’ll be sent a
new cable by the end of the month.
Otherwise, you’ll need to provide your MacBook serial number
to verify eligibility. You can then contact Apple through a retail store, an
authorised service provider, or Apple Support, to claim your free cable.
Also, if you’ve already replaced your cable because of this
issue, you can contact Apple for a refund.