After several cases of exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 last week, Samsung has decided to suspend the shipment of the devices. In an official statement, the company said there were 35 cases reported worldwide and after a thorough investigation, the problem was pinned on a battery cell issue. What would happen to those who already own a Galaxy Note 7?
Samsung said that it will provide a new device as a replacement for the current ones already on hand of the customers "over the coming weeks." BGR reported that Samsung has already addressed the issues and will start shipping the new Galaxy Note 7 devices as early as this week. Samsung has produced 2.5 million units and sold 1 million devices in South Korea and the United States.
If customers would rather not have Galaxy Note 7, there are options available. BGR said that Note 7 owners can opt to trade their devices with a different model, either a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. In which case, the tech company will also refund the customers for any Galaxy Note 7 accessories they have purchased. On the other hand, customers who choose to exchange their current Note 7 with a new one will also receive a $25 gift certificate as a "gesture of appreciation" from Samsung.
Meanwhile, Consumer Reports, a U.S. product safety and testing non-profit organization, has called on Samsung to issue an official recall of all its Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices. The Guardian reported that Consumer Reports learned that the company has not taken a full-recall action, and some retail stores still offer the phablets for sale.
Being the biggest product defect issue Samsung had in recent years, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall could cost the company about $1 billion. Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile business, said that "it pains my heart that it will be such a big number."
