Now that Samsung will be making replacement Galaxy Note7 smartphones available to consumers under a USA recall starting September 21, the company is advising customers how they can determine that the replacement phone they receive does not have the original defective battery that caused some Note7 phones to burst into flames or explode. They also added that the recall affected consumers would get a $25 or gift voucher with their Galaxy Note 7.
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However, a supplier to Samsung said yesterday that its battery does not appear to have caused a Galaxy Note 7 smartphone to ignite in China, according to Reuters.
On Sept 5, it was reported that Samsung had stopped all sales of the Galaxy Note7, after 35 cases were reported globally as of Sept 1, over an issue related to the battery cell. Samsung had claimed the update will limit battery charge to 60 per cent thus preventing phones from overheating.
Buyers have started receiving their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 replacements in various countries across the world, but more reports pointing to units that catch fire seem to surface regularly.
On Sunday, a Galaxy Note 7 user posted several photos on social media, saying his phone caught fire over the weekend.
A separate software update will be pushed to replacement Galaxy Note7 devices, indicating that charging is safe by changing the battery icon to green.
“We are working to identify and execute all appropriate measures to protect customer safety”, Samsung Electronics Australia mobile vice-president Richard Fink said in a statement.
But Samsung has said in a statement on its China website its investigation of the phone shows “the damage to this product was caused by external heating”, without elaborating.
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“Although the Galaxy Note7 has not been released in Nigeria, the current Galaxy Note7 users are kindly advised to visit the nearest Samsung Authorized Service Centre for immediate assistance about replacement programme”.
