The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a warning to owners of portable battery packs after a string of recalls for devices that can overheat, catch fire and cause serious injuries or property damage.
Since 2020 the ACCC’s Product Safety website has published 17 recalls involving power banks, nine of which were listed in the last 16 months. The regulator says around 34,000 recalled units remain in the community.
“Some consumers have suffered serious burn injuries, and some have had their property damaged because of power banks overheating and catching fire,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said. “Most incidents have occurred when the power bank is charging a phone or other device, which makes it more likely that they will be close to the user when they fail, increasing the likelihood of injuries.”
Power banks – portable chargers typically containing lithium‑ion cells – are widely used to top up phones, watches and other devices while away from mains power. The ACCC says lithium‑ion batteries can be highly flammable if they are incorrectly manufactured, handled, stored or disposed of.
Consumers who own a recalled unit have been urged to stop using it immediately and to follow the instructions on the relevant recall notice to obtain a remedy. “Consumers who own a recalled power bank shouldn’t be concerned about being left out of pocket. Suppliers are offering a full refund or free replacement under these recalls,” Ms Lowe said.
The regulator lists several specific models it is monitoring closely. Among them:
– Anker Power Bank models A1257, A1647, A1681 and A1689 (recall published 8 July 2025) — cited for overheating that can lead to fires and property damage.
– Baseus power bank 65W 30,000 mAh (model BS‑30KP365) (published 23 May 2025) — Baseus reported 76 incidents, including 72 cases of bulging batteries and four fires, three of which caused property damage. The unit may overheat when charging or in use.
– SnapWireless PowerPack Slim (Gen 1) (published 21 May 2025) — assessed as capable of overheating and catching fire, with incidents reported.
– Quad Lock MAG battery pack (Annex Products Pty Ltd trading as Quad Lock) (published 12 November 2024) — can overheat and catch fire, with cases of property damage reported even when the product is not in use.
– Belkin BoostCharge Pro fast wireless charger for Apple Watch + power bank 10K (published 6 November 2024) — the lithium‑ion cell may overheat and catch fire.
– Anker power bank A1647 (published 2 October 2024) — battery can overheat and catch fire; two overseas incidents caused injury and damage.
– Baseus magnetic wireless charging power banks 6000 mAh 20W (published 12 July 2024) — batteries can overheat, swell or bulge, posing a fire hazard.
– MagMove 5K Power Bank (Cygnett Pty Ltd) (published 26 March 2024) — battery pack can overheat and catch fire; people have been seriously injured and property damaged in reported incidents.
The ACCC recommends following manufacturer guidance, storing power banks in a cool, dry place and using the correct charger. “It’s important that people use the correct charger to charge their power bank and check that it is in good condition,” Ms Lowe said. “We urge consumers not to charge power banks on flammable materials such as beds, sofas or carpet, and to never use power banks that are damaged, overheating, swelling, leaking or venting gas.”
She also suggested practical steps to reduce risk: “Setting timers as a reminder to unplug devices may help monitor device charging times, as it’s important to disconnect products from chargers when they are fully charged,” Ms Lowe said.
Consumers can check whether their device is affected and find safety guidance on the ACCC’s Product Safety website. The regulator also points to its lithium‑ion batteries guide for further information on safe use, storage and disposal.
