Users of iPhones dissatisfied with Apple response

Chinese consumers said on Monday that they are dissatisfied with Apple Inc's response to reports that some of its iPhone models unexpectedly shut down.

The U.S.-based technology company said on Sunday that a tiny number of its iPhone 6s smartphone models may unexpectedly shut down, but it emphasized there was no safety issue.

The company said the problem only affects devices within a limited range of serial numbers that were manufactured from September 2015 to October 2015. The iPhone 6s devices whose serial numbers fall within this range are eligible for a free battery replacement.

A 26-year-old Beijing resident surnamed Chen was not satisfied with Apple's announcement. "It didn't explain to iPhone users why the devices automatically shut down when the battery level is 50 percent," she told the Global Times on Monday.

Chen has used an iPhone 6 Plus for nearly two years. She said her phone has sometimes automatically shut down when its battery was around 50 percent.

According to the announcement, the battery replacement program covers affected iPhone 6s devices for three years after the date of sale.

"Apple should come up with a better solution, like a recall, because I think the quality of the whole device is substandard. When it is cold outside, my iPhone 6s Plus automatically shut down several times over the past month, even though its battery was at 40 to 50 percent," said a Beijing white-collar worker, who bought the device just after it went on sale in September 2015.

She said she will switch to a Huawei smartphone if she continues to have trouble with her iPhone 6s Plus.

The China Consumer Association announced last week that it had made a query with Apple after "a considerable number" of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s users complained that their devices automatically shut off at battery levels of 50 percent to 60 percent.

The problem persisted after upgrading to the new iOS operating system or when the weather was cold.