Technologies

210,000 Iniu Chargers Sold on Amazon Were Recalled: Check If Yours Is Listed

Fires involving the chargers caused $380,000 in damages. Here are the affected models.

A portable power bank or power station can help keep your phone and other devices charged on the go, but a defective model poses a risk of fire and injury. Iniu, a popular Amazon brand known for affordable power banks and charging accessories, is facing a recall.

We recently praised the small but mighty Iniu SnapGo, which features a 5,000mAh capacity that clips to a keychain, offering power on the go for as low as $11 on a recent sale.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

How to check if your Iniu power bank has been recalled

The company hasn’t had as much luck with its 10,000mAh power bank (model BI-B41) in black and blue. This model, sold exclusively on Amazon USA for $18 between Aug. 2021 and April 2022, is being recalled, resulting in up to 210,000 chargers needing to be safely disposed of. The specific model serial numbers affected are:

000G21
000H21
000I21
000L21

Iniu says that if you own this model, you should immediately stop using the power bank and keep it in a cool, dry place until you receive confirmation from Iniu that it qualifies for the recall program. You can submit a claim by following this link and providing your contact information, proof of purchase between Aug. 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022, a photo of the recalled charter with a name, your submission date, and a six-digit unique code written on the back of the product in a permanent marker. (Iniu did not immediately respond to a request for information about how a customer would get that six-digit code.)

Once the recall is approved, the company should provide you with a refund.

If you have a different Iniu model or a unit that’s red or orange or purchased outside of Amazon USA, you should not be affected by the recall. You also don’t need to worry if the serial number on yours ends in 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, or 25.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Iniu received 15 reports of the power banks overheating, including 11 reports of fires that resulted in three minor burn injuries and property damage totaling over $380,000. This fire danger isn’t something you want to take lightly and continue using.

How to dispose of a recalled power bank

The company will inform you how to safely dispose of the chargers, but you shouldn’t put it in regular trash or recycling. The best way is to give it to a municipal Household Hazardous Waste collection center that takes recalled lithium-ion batteries.

A representative for Iniu did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iniu isn’t the only company recalling its portable power banks. Anker had to recall several models back in September, following an earlier recall in June of its A1263 and an Oct. 2024 recall of the A1641 PowerCore 1000, and a recall of the Anker 535 following a Maryland house fire.

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.

Technologies

2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn’t Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 8, #1032

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 8, No. 1032.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The purple category is a fun one, once you see the connection. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: In the group.

Green group hint: Appearance details.

Blue group hint: Often found in gyms.

Purple group hint: They help you see.