Samsung recalls Galaxy Note 7 phones after battery fires
Attorney provides insight about quality control procedures
Amid reports of Galaxy Note 7 devices either catching fire or exploding, Samsung last week initiated an unprecedented recall for its high-profile and initially high-praised phablet. The recall, naturally, won't come cheap however, with one Samsung executive indicating that it may cost the company upwards of $1 billion.
Of course, since some Galaxy Note 7 owners haven't yet decided to trade in their device for a new one, we're still seeing reports of exploding devices sprout up across the globe. Most recently, a Galaxy Note 7 owner named Tham Hua was catching some shut-eye at a hotel in Perth, Australia when his charging Note 7 exploded and, in turn, caused upwards of $1,380 worth of damage.
Originally posted on Reddit, Hua said that the mini-explosion completely destroyed his device.
"Phone completely fried," Hua said. "I can't eject the sim tray to retrieved my sim or the SD card. I was using original charger and cable if you are wondering. Charred the hotel room bed sheet and the carpet when I whacked it down to the floor, burnt one of my finger while doing that too."
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Here's the front of the device.
And the back looks just as bad.
As for those wondering if the phone actually exploded, Hua said that's exactly what happened.
"To me it was an explosion, a small one," Hua explained. "It fizzed and then phone [popped] open, flame and smoke follow (sic), almost had a panic attack sight to see waking up."
Upon contacting Samsung, Hua was given a loaner phone and was told that this was the first reported case of an exploding Note 7 in Australia. I'm sure this wasn't the international rollout that Samsung had initially envisioned.
As for Hua's final thoughts, well, he advises Note 7 owners to take advantage of Samsung's replacement program ASAP and to not try to test their luck.
"Please do not use the phone anymore, it is dangerous and not worth the risk," Hua said. "I knew of the recall and lodged my application with Samsung as soon as they announced officially on Friday, and now 3 days later it has happened to me.
As for the $1,380 worth of damage to the hotel room, Hua said that Samsung will take care of that on his behalf.
Photos of the hotel room damage can be seen below.
Given the wave of bad press and the overall black mark that this recall has had on Samsung's brand and reputation, we have to imagine that even Samsung is glad that Apple's iPhone 7 is set to be unveiled later this week.
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