ESR recalls thousands of power banks due to fire risk, offers full refunds

ESR is a popular accessories vendor that sells numerous types of hardware, including MagSafe-compatible power banks, wallets, cases, keyboards, and more. Its products are primarily geared towards Apple customers who want accessories at a cheaper price than first-party options. However, ESR customers are in for a bit of a shock today as the company has recalled thousands of power banks due to the risk of fires and burns.

There are three ESR HaloLock wireless power banks in question that are being recalled, namely the 2G520, 2G505B, and 2G512B. They can be identified through the model number printed on the right side of the device, with the "ESR" logo emblazoned on the back.

ESR has received nine reports of these lithium-ion power banks catching fire and exploding, causing property damage worth roughly $20,000. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or loss of lives. It appears that the batteries overheat due to a manufacturing fault, which results in a fire in some extreme cases.

33,000 power banks sold between September 2023 and July 2025 in the U.S. and Canada are impacted. They were typically sold on Amazon, Home Depot, and ESR's own website for $32-$40. Customers have been requested to stop using the faulty devices immediately and email ESR support their order number and a photo of the power bank with a visible model number and "Recalled" written on it with a permanent marker to initiate their refund process.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) has requested customers not to just throw away the power banks in regular waste processes like the household dustbin, but to contact your municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center to find out if they will take lithium-ion batteries. If they do not, the authority has asked those impacted to directly contact their municipality for further guidance.

ESR has also set up a dedicated recall page, indicating that full refunds are being offered through WayMeet Limited. That said, it has not yet announced what customers in regions other than the U.S. or Canada should do. The company says that it is conducting a "thorough assessment" in other regions, but has not announced a recall there yet.

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Posted Friday 15 August 2025 at 1:32 pm AEST (my time).

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