The warning comes almost a week after Samsung announced a voluntary recall of Galaxy Note 7 handsets worldwide, following reports that the lithium-ion batteries in some handsets had exploded while charging. When these batteries overheat and burst, the results can be serious.
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FOLLOWING a spate of batteries exploding in the new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, Samsung Electronics has urged South Korean customers to stop using the phone amid a worldwide recall.
Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning not to charge or switch on Galaxy Note7 on board aircraft.
It said in one case, a family in St. Petersburg, Florida, reported a Galaxy Note 7 phone left charging in their Jeep caught fire, destroying the vehicle.
The agency has urged consumers to report product safety incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in smartphones. “We advise South Korean consumers using the Galaxy Note 7 to stop using the device and to visit nearest service centres to take necessary steps”, Samsung said on its website. Customers can also choose to be informed of when new Note 7 devices become available.
Last week, Samsung announced that it would be issuing a recall for the Galaxy Note 7 after several devices were found to have major battery defects.
He also advised passengers that in general, they should inform flight attendants if their electronic devices broke, became abnormally hot, were lost during flights or slipped into spaces between seats.
Praised by reviewers for its impressive camera, water-resistant casing and vivid display, Samsung had announced it had sold 2.5 million phones since the phone went on sale last month. “We are expediting replacement devices so that they can be provided through the exchange program as conveniently as possible”.
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Note 7 accessories can also be returned for a refund and Samsung is issuing a $25 gift card, in-store credit or bill credit to users for the inconvenience. GSMArena has informed a way to find out whether your Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is likely to explode. Singapore Airlines is already prohibiting the use or charging of the phones in flight, and Australian carrier Qantas said it was requesting that passengers not use them.
