10/10 Update: The Galaxy Note 7 has been taken off the market by Samsung.
Nobody would want to be in Samsung’s shoes right now. Apple just released the iPhone 7, a formidable competitor to their flagship handset. Now, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has officially issued a recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in the past week. This means Samsung is recalling about 2.5 million of their most popular smartphones. They certainly look like they’re in dire straits.
What Happened to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7?
Since the distribution of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received 92 complaints of overheating batteries. 26 of those reports cited burns while another 55 have reported property damage. This damage includes several cars and a garage.
Soon enough, several reports broke out that the said smartphone runs the risk of overheating and even exploding. In the wake of such troubling news, the Korean electronics company has recalled their flagship handset and blamed the phone’s high risk for combustion on a battery cell issue.
For added safety measure, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has urged American consumers to exchange or return their device to avoid the risk of fire and injuries. Initial reports suggest that those affected by this product recall have reached around a million, a figure based on the amount of Note 7s that have been sold so far.
Is My Phone Part of the Recall?
According to official reports, about 97% of Note 7s sold in the U.S. are affected by the recall. Meaning, it’s highly likely that yours may be part of it.
However, to be sure that it really is part of the recall, you may have to double-check.
To begin with, look for an IMEI number on the back of your Galaxy Note or on the handset’s box. You may also find those digits in the phone’s settings when you go to “About Phone” or “General Management” > “Status”. Once you get the number, enter them at http://samsung.com/us/note7recall or call Samsung’s recall hotline (1-844-365-6197).
What Next?
If it turns out that your Galaxy Note 7 is part of the recall, the very first thing you need to do is turn it off and not charge it. You can turn it in at selected retail outlets and carriers across the country. In case you bought the phone through a wireless carrier or retailer, you have to contact the same merchant. If you got the handset directly from Samsung, you should contact their nearest store location.
From there, you have the option to either ask for a replacement or a full refund. If you choose the former, you’ll be made to choose between a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge or a Galaxy S7, plus a refund of the price difference. You may also have the option to wait for the newer (and hopefully safer) Galaxy Note 7s, though the replacements will still require a clearance from Consumer Product Safety Commission before they get shipped at a later date.
The turn of events revolving around the Galaxy Note 7 has definitely been nothing short of messy. While Samsung has made the necessary measures to mitigate the problem, they may not be enough to keep loyal patrons from feeling frustrated over the inconvenience. That may be why they are issuing $25 gift cards or credit for all Note 7 users in selected stores and carriers in the U.S.
