Purported image of an iPhone microwaved when testing Apple Wave
A fake Apple promo being shared on social media claims that iPhone users can charge their phones in the microwave – which, of course, they can’t.
That qualification probably seems unnecessary, but you can never be too careful.
The fake promo has been styled to look like an official Apple announcement and claims that iOS 8 comes with a new feature called Wave, which enables the device to charge wirelessly through microwave frequencies.
This then translates into instructing iPhone users to microwave their phones.
There are plenty of signs to indicate that Apple Wave is a falsehood. The design of the promo isn’t quite as slick as Apple’s genuine marketing materials. The introductory text uses Samsung’s advertising tagline, ‘the next big thing’. Also, the instructions on how many seconds of microwaving are required are inconsistent.
Of course, the glaring red flag that this hoax raises is the claim that microwaving an iPhone would be a good idea.
With #AppleWave, I can finally heat my pizza and charge my phone at the same time. Thank you based Apple pic.twitter.com/FVIUrfB8Vk
— Pizzacat (@catpizzas) September 19, 2014
Indeed, #AppleWave is a major milestone in wireless charging technology.
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessage) September 20, 2014
The spoof promo seems to have originated on the 4chan message boards, and has been shared eagerly on social media with some posters claiming to have successfully used this new technology. However, with a cursory glance at the posts from those who say they have fallen victim to the prank you’ll notice the same photo of a blitzed iPhone doing the rounds.
It’s not often I rave about an Apple product, but I just tried #AppleWave and it is AMAZING. pic.twitter.com/vgzVLdSsa3
— Chris Eng (@chriseng) September 19, 2014
I microwaved my ios8 iPhone and now my batteries at 500% #AppleWave
— brookelynne (@DORITOTACOS) September 20, 2014
Guys, Apple Wave only works if you put your microwave on ‘popcorn’ mode.
— Grant (@tnarGGrant) September 22, 2014
I tried using the new IOS 8 feature WAVE where you can charge your phone with a microwave, does not work @Apple pic.twitter.com/33NSv42hgO
— i dont (@rizarul) September 22, 2014
I tried using the new IOS 8 feature WAVE where you can charge your phone with a microwave, does not work @Apple pic.twitter.com/IWsWnVboUl
— nick (@Fallenbot) September 18, 2014
This isn’t the first time 4chan pranksters have tried to trick iPhone users into destroying their phones. A similar hoax claimed that iOS 7 could make your iPhone waterproof.
However, evidence of anyone actually falling for it (as opposed to making the claim so that the stunt grabs more attention), is thin on the ground.
