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Own any of these Anker speakers? Stop using them, recall issued
Anker recalls nearly 69,000 Bluetooth speakers due to fire hazards caused by lithium-ion batteries. The CPSC has reported 33 incidents of these speakers catching fire.
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Look, we get it — sometimes tech companies have a bad day. But Anker’s having a bad year, and their latest oopsie involves Bluetooth speakers that are getting a little too lit for comfort.
And we mean that in the most literal, flame-emoji kind of way.
The accessory maker dropped its third recall of 2024, yanking nearly 69,000 speakers off the market because they’ve developed a nasty habit of catching fire.
According to Consumer Reports, we’re talking about three models: the Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker (in sleek black) and two PowerConf S3 variants exclusively sold on Amazon between March and October 2023.
The culprits here are the speakers’ lithium-ion batteries, which apparently didn’t get the memo about not spontaneously combusting.
The CPSC has logged 33 separate incidents of these speakers doing its testing — we’re talking smoke, small fires, and someone got minor burns in one particular case. It’s not exactly the kind of heat drop anyone was looking for.
If you’ve got one of these potential fire starters (model numbers A3102016, A3302011, or A3302031), here’s what you need to do:
- Stop using it. Like, right now. Seriously.
- Power that bad boy down completely
- Unplug it from any power source
- Check the SN Code on the bottom
- Hit up Anker’s support page for your free replacement
The Bigger Picture: Anker’s Battery Blues
This isn’t just a one-off situation — it’s part of what’s becoming Anker’s greatest hits of hazards.
Earlier this year, they had to recall the 321 Power Bank in June, followed by another recall in September for the 334 MagGo Battery and some other power banks. At this point, Anker’s recall game is stronger than its quality control.
What’s Really Going On?
The radio silence from Anker’s PR team is deafening. While they’re doing the right thing with these recalls, the company has yet to come clean about what’s causing this epidemic of flammable batteries. We’ve reached out for comment, but so far, crickets.
If you’ve got one of these speakers, don’t try to be a hero — get that replacement. And whatever you do, don’t chuck it in the regular trash or your local electronics recycling bin.
These speakers need special handling at a municipal recycling center that knows how to deal with recalled lithium batteries.
For now, maybe stick to the good old-fashioned aux cord? Just saying.
We’ll update this article if Anker decides to break their silence and explain what’s going on with their battery situation. Stay tuned.
What do you think is behind Anker’s string of battery-related recalls? Have you been affected by one of these hazardous products? Let us know in the comments below.
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