Tag: Samsung recall

Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Dead?

| October 12, 2016

Several reports indicate that the Korean electronics company is suspending production of the device.

Since the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launch, the company has faced one nightmare after the next. The problems may have just reached a new high point. Yonhap News, the largest news agency in South Korea, reports a suspension of the company’s flagship smartphone.

The South Korean News agency cited a source inside Samsung’s supply chain.

The source, who remained anonymous, explained that “This measure includes a Samsung plant in Vietnam that is responsible for global shipments (of the Galaxy Note 7).” At the time of the writing of this article, an official confirmation of the suspension of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 production had not been made.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 - Image of Samsung mobile phoneThat said, it would not be impossible to believe that this step would be taken. The new flagship smartphone from Samsung has seen nothing but problems since its first launch. This included safety problems in the United States.

Both AT&T and T-Mobile stopped selling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 when several caught fire.

There were five separate incidents in the United States in which the Samsung smartphones caught fire. This was reportedly a problem with the battery. Moreover, an Australian telecom company called Telstra may also be doing the same thing. The Verge reported that it had access to a memo from the company saying the Galaxy Note 7 would soon be withdrawn not only from its own shelves, but from stores worldwide.

As published on The Verge, the memo explained that “Samsung has temporarily paused the supply of new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones following a reported incident in a replacement phone in the US. Samsung is confident in the replacement Note 7 and says they have no reason to believe it’s not safe.” That said, it also indicated that it would be progressing to create a “replacement Note 7.” No further information was shared about that mobile device.

On October 10th, Reuters reported that the electronics giant confirmed it would be “adjusting shipment volumes.” This move was being made to give the company the opportunity to hold in-depth inspections and to ensure proper quality control was in place. That said, it did not say anything further about ceasing the production of its product.

Samsung phone fires not caused by batteries after all

| September 21, 2016

A supplier in China has reported that a joint probe pointed to “outside factors” as the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 problems.

The Samsung phone fires in the Galaxy Note 7 have made their way to China. Videos of the exploding mobile devices went viral last weekend. Some stores in the country pulled them from the shelves while some new owners sought to return them.

However, the South Korean electronics company released a statement following device test results.

So far, the Samsung phone fires don’t appear to be caused by faulty batteries, as had been suspected. At least, that is what the company has been saying following the results of tests conducted on the devices. At least one of the exploding Galaxy Note 7 phones was heated from the outside, not internally, said Samsung.

samsung-phone-fire-explosionThe electronics giant has said that the small number of Galaxy Note 7 phones that were set aside for presale in China are not among those containing faulty batteries. There have been battery issues in versions of the device launched in other countries. The company is currently dealing with the recall of 2.5 million units in the United States and 9 other countries.

China is the largest smartphone market in the world, but it has not been impacted by the Samsung phone fires recall.

That said, it isn’t yet clear whether or not the statement from Samsung will be enough to assuage the concerns of consumers and merchants. The world has already watched the company cope with the massive recall of the first wave of fire-prone batteries in the smartphones. For a device that already retails for over $800, this could cause people – and stores – to think twice.

The widespread news of the exploding phones in China could be very problematic to the company, regardless of whether or not they are to blame. The fact that this is occurring in the largest phone market in the world must be causing some sweat to break out.

The tests were conducted by the battery supplier for the Chinese market phones, Amperex Technology Ltd. It conducted the tests jointly with Samsung using one of the devices that were part of the Samsung phone fires in China. The examination revealed that the battery hadn’t been the source of the problems.