Samsung recalls the Galaxy Note7

After several reports of battery fires in the Galaxy Note7, Samsung has been forced to stop selling the device billed as it’s best phone ever and work to offer a recall fix for those already in market.

After halting sales of the device this morning across Australia, Samsung Korea have made the almost unprecedented announcement this evening to recall the device.

Samsung Australia says : “Samsung is committed to producing the highest quality products and we take every incident report from our valued customers very seriously. In response to recently reported cases of the new Galaxy Note7, we conducted a thorough investigation and found a battery cell issue.

“To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally. There have no reported incidents in Australia. However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note7.

“For customers who already have Galaxy Note7 devices, we will provide a resolution of their choice including a replacement, repair or refund over the coming weeks.

“We acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause in the market but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to our customers. We are working closely with our partners to ensure the customer experience is as convenient and efficient as possible. We will have an update for Australian customers early next week.”

The reports originated in China, where some suspect the cause could be linked to cheap non-original chargers or cables, however a US man has also uploaded a video to YouTube of his device and he claims he was using the supplied Samsung Charger and Charging Cable.

Worldwide there have been a reported 35 Note 7 handsets reported with an issue – which is tiny on a percentage of total basis, but it’s far too many when fire is involved.

Galaxy Note7 owners should wait until the Telcos and retailers release information regarding the returns, with battery replacement the most likely outcome, others may choose to have their device replaced.