An incident that sparked widespread online debate in China over a smartphone's lock-screen feature has been resolved after third-party verification showed the device was working normally. According to ITHome, the user who claimed a Honor phone's 'Magic Screensaver' (魔法画报) delayed emergency medical care for his mother has since clarified that the issue was a misunderstanding.
What happened
On the evening of September 10, a man surnamed Zhang in Jinan, Shandong province, posted on social media that his mother had suffered a sudden heart attack, and that the Honor phone's Magic Screensaver feature had caused him to miss the critical window for rescue. The post quickly gained traction online. The next day, Zhang issued a clarification through media, saying his initial claim was made in a state of emotional distress and was not related to the phone. He apologized for the impact on Honor's reputation.
On September 11, Honor representatives met with Zhang for the first time to recreate the scene. According to ITHome, both parties confirmed the call log of the Honor X70 involved: between 4:39 AM and 5:43:02 AM on August 30, the phone made eight outgoing calls and received two incoming calls. Analysis of the system logs, with Zhang's consent, showed that the phone did not enter the Magic Screensaver interface during that period. The first entry into Magic Screensaver occurred at 5:43:18 AM, lasting 8 seconds, after which no further operations were performed. At 6:13:12 AM, the phone received another call.
Zhang's on-site clarification matched the system logs. He explained, 'In the early morning, my elderly father, who suffers from cerebral infarction, used the Honor X70 to successfully make an emergency call. Due to the sudden family crisis, I was emotionally agitated and misunderstood that the phone had failed to place the call.' He added, 'My original intention in posting was to urge phone makers to take such issues seriously and prevent tragedies. After communication, I realized the issue was not with the Honor phone. Some content in my post was inaccurate, and I apologize for the impact on the Honor brand.'
Broader context
The incident highlights how quickly misinformation can spread on Chinese social media, especially involving health emergencies. For smartphone users, it underscores the importance of verifying facts before attributing failures to devices. Honor's Magic Screensaver is a lock-screen feature that displays curated images and news, but in this case, it was not a factor. The company has not issued further statements, but the resolution suggests a cooperative approach between the user and the brand.
For the tech industry, the episode serves as a reminder of the reputational risks posed by viral claims, and the value of transparent, evidence-based responses. Honor, a major Chinese smartphone brand spun off from Huawei, continues to focus on its product lineup, including upcoming releases like the Honor Watch 6 Pro, which is set to launch on September 28 with heart-arrest monitoring capabilities.
Based on reporting by IT之家. Edited and published in English by geisou.
