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It feels like years have passed, but it was only a little more than a year ago when the hottest topic (and joke) on the block was Samsung and its Note 7's propensity to spontaneously go up in flames. But the Note being the Note meant that despite many a recall program, several updates supposed to render the device useless, and dozens of offers to tempt users to give back their phones, some held onto their precious Note 7 like a little collector item. Samsung capitalized on it by releasing a special Galaxy Note Fan Edition (notice the missing "7") last February with a very similar design and internals as the Note 7, save for a few differences (smaller 3200mAh battery, no Samsung logo on the front, Fan Edition inscription on the back, and Bixby.)
Samsung took a big hit last year when the well-reviewed Galaxy Note 7 showed a propensity to burst into flames. Samsung eventually had to recall millions of units and cancel the device entirely. The company has been working on a revamped version of the Note 7 in recent months, but now the Wall Street Journal has release details. According to the WSJ report, Samsung will launch the Galaxy Note 7 Fandom Edition on July 7th in South Korea.
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- In a statement to The Verge, Samsung confirmed that it "will not be offering refurbished Galaxy Note 7 devices for rent or sale in the US." Samsung did not reveal where the devices would be sold.
The Samsung Galaxy Note7 was one of the most disastrous product launches in recent memory. After launching to rave reviews, reports of the phone catching fire started to appear, eventually causing Samsung to conduct a global recall. Shortly after, Samsung started selling a 'safe' Note7, only for that model to start catching fire as well. Another global recall was initiated.
Samsung has finally announced the results of the company's investigation into the Note7 accidents today, and it has come to an interesting conclusion. In addition to its own internal investigation, Samsung brought in safety consulting firms UL, Exponent, and TÜV Rheinland to help determine the root causes.
The unfortunate tale of the Galaxy Note7 has been a long one. Shortly after the release of the Note7, reports of the phone catching fire began to materialize, and before long Samsung started a global recall. Samsung sent affected users a "safe" model with the problem supposedly fixed, and later began selling it on retail channels, only for that to start exploding as well.
The Galaxy Note7 was a spectacular failure for Samsung that has turned into a customer service nightmare for its carrier partners. People are still using the Note 7 even after a series of OTA updates designed to reduce the phone's charging capacity and finally stop it from charging altogether. Verizon says thousands of people are still using the Note7 on its network, and it's looking to put a stop to it by blocking all outgoing calls. The carrier may also be delivering some bill-shock to holdouts.
The saga of the Galaxy Note7 was one of the most surprising and disastrous events in the tech industry last year. The Note7 received very positive initial reviews, but soon after, several reports of the device catching fire were made public. After acknowledging that the problem was with the Note7, Samsung began recalling all units.
The Note7 doomsday has arrived. Samsung announced several weeks ago its intention to send out an OTA update that killed the Note7's ability to charge in the US. T-Mobile was the first carrier to schedule the update, and now it's rolling out. Any remaining Note7 devices on Tmo will soon be put out of their misery.
Over two months ago, Samsung stopped production of the Galaxy Note7 permanently. Recalls ensued across the globe, and returns have exceeded 90% of devices sold. Today, if a report from app research firm Apteligent is to be believed, that still means there are more Galaxy Note7s out there in use than there are LG V20s. A lot more. Apteligent's report suggests that there remain well over twice as many Note7s out in the wild as there are LG V20s. The Moto Z just barely comes in above the Note7, too, and according to Apteligent is actually declining in popularity, which is a bit weird.
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- We've been informed by a commenter that effective December 15th, Samsung Australia will be banning the IMEIs of all Galaxy Note7 smartphones. Samsung AU is also offering $250 to customers who trade their Note7 in for an S7 or S7 edge in addition to the difference in resale values until December 22nd. Thanks, Beau.
Samsung's been trying very hard to get all units of the Galaxy Note7 returned to them, but some owners are having trouble letting go of their beloved stylus-equipped phablets. To force owners into giving them back, Samsung will be updating the Note7 to be severely crippled in Canada and literally unusable in the US. Now, Samsung is taking similar measures with UK Note7 units.
Here's an interesting wrinkle in the rapidly-closing saga of the Galaxy Note 7. Yesterday Samsung announced that it would send a software over-the-air update to the few remaining phones in the US, preventing the devices from taking a new electricity charge, and hopefully stopping any more battery-based fires. It's far from the first measure the company has taken to further encourage owners of the defective phones to accept the voluntary recall, but it might be the last. American wireless carrier Verizon, for reasons of its own, isn't participating in the latest software update.
The ongoing recall of Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices is serious business for the Korean company. After canceling the phone following repeated battery fires, Samsung has done everything in its power to make sure owners return or exchange the phones. When asking nicely didn't elicit the desired response, Samsung put a 60% cap on battery charge. Now, it's going to start crippling any remaining devices in Canada.
Samsung is pulling out the big guns to encourage Note7 holdouts to turn in their phones. In the coming days, it will send out an OTA to all Note7s in the US that limits the battery to a 60% charge. So, it's not just T-Mobile. The new software will also nag you incessantly about returning the phone.
Though Samsung's Note7 is now officially off shelves, the headaches are not yet over. Beyond the continued, embarrassing efforts to keep the phones off of planes and the expected loss of over $3 billion, Samsung will now be dealing with legal troubles related to the Note7 as well. Consumers in the United States and South Korea have just announced their intent to file class action lawsuits.
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- Samsung has released a statement containing a list of Australian airport terminals that currently have the stations:
If you didn't get the message the first, second, or third time, you should really exchange your Note7. In the last bullet to Samsung's reputation, the US Department of Transportation banned carrying a Note7 onto flights. While there is no questioning that the Note7 is dangerous, having to leave your phone behind isn't ideal. Thankfully, Samsung is in the process of setting up Note7 exchange stations at airports worldwide.
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Those brave foolish few who have been determined to keep their Galaxy Note7s after the device was recalled a second time might want to think again. Bloomberg is reporting that the Note7 is heading for a full ban on all US flights. That means it's no longer simply a matter of not using the Note7 on a flight, it's illegal to have one at all.
Following two days of non-stop news on carriers halting sales, reports of Samsung temporarily stopping production, and official partners disabling apps on the device, the only piece of news that could conceivably be next has arrived: Samsung will permanently discontinue production and sales of the Note7 worldwide, with filings made to regulators in South Korea.
I've not been near a Note7 when it explodes, but having watched videos and seen pictures of said event, I'm assured fire, heat, and general explosiveness are involved. Probably best, then, not to use it with Samsung's Gear VR headset. With that said, Oculus has duly disabled the Gear VR app on the Note7, in the interests of safety.
The latest chapter in Samsung's ongoing Note7 nightmare has unfolded with the company's official statement on the new wave of battery fires. It says all owners of the Note7 should immediately turn off the phone while Samsung continues its investigation. This includes any original Note7 devices that might still be floating around as well as the replacements.