Last week, Samsung confirmed that is recalling the Galaxy Note 7, its latest flagship phone. Here’s what you need to know.
Why is Samsung doing a Note 7 recall?
Samsung received thirty-five reports of Note 7 batteries exploding or catching on fire, due to a (rare) manufacturing error. Obviously that’s not an ideal feature for a hot new smartphone, so Samsung decided to halt their roll-out of the Note 7 and ensure that all of these phones are replaced with safe alternatives.
Which phones are affected by the recall?
All Samsung Galaxy Note 7 models sold in the UK and EU are affected. Indeed, almost all models in the world are affected; only Chinese units which use a different battery supplier have not been affected. In total, 2.5 million units will be recalled, which will cost Samsung approximately $1 billion in lost revenue.
No other phones, Samsung or otherwise, are affected.
What if I haven’t gotten my Note 7 yet?
Then you don’t have to do anything except wait. Your retailer will send its units back to Samsung (if they had already received them), and Samsung will send replacements. Expect the process to take at least two weeks; your retailer should contact you once it has an ETA.
What if I’ve already received my Note 7?
If you’ve already received your Note 7, it goes without saying that you should stop using it. British mobile phone retailers and network operators have already begun contacting buyers to arrange an exchange. If you’d prefer to operate with Samsung directly, you can contact them via phone at 0330 7261000.
When will replacement phones start arriving?
Replacement phones for customers that have received their Note 7 units ahead of the official UK launch should start arriving from September 19th.
Is there any way to tell if my phone is faulty?
According to BGR, phones that say ‘manufactured in China’ have a good chance of using battery cells produced by ATL, which are understood to be safe. Conversely, phones manufactured in Vietnam or Korea should use the unsafe Samsung SDI batteries.
Can I keep using my Note 7?
There’s no point risking your phone — and maybe your life — by continuing to use the phone in the face of the recall. Even if you have to wait a couple of weeks for a replacement, that’s a mild inconvenience. It’s better to just return your phone to your supplier or Samsung.
Am I allowed to use my Note 7 on airplanes?
So far, yes. But the American Federal Aviation Administration is considering banning Note 7 units with faulty batteries from flights. Thus far, a final decision has yet to be made, but you might want to leave your Note 7 at home (or send it back to Samsung) if you’ve got a flight to catch.
How do I find out more?
You can visit Samung’s Note 7 Exchange Programme website for more information.
Any more questions?
Let us know in the comments if you have any more questions we can answer!