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Exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phablets recalled immediately
Brits invited to hand over their flammable phablets
Samsung Electronics has recalled its exploding new phablet model after an increasing number of miniature blasts – and their internal investigation discovered a "battery cell issue".
Samsung had halted shipments of the Galaxy Note 7 earlier this week after a number of reports regarding the phablets catching fire.
In a statement today the Korean company admitted that there have been 35 cases of phablet malfunction reported globally, and as such it is "currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market."
Koh Dong-jin, the president of Samsung’s mobile arm, told the press today that there was "a tiny problem in the manufacturing process" which caused the issue.
According to the BBC, Dong-jin said: "It will cost us so much it makes my heart ache. Nevertheless, the reason we made this decision is because what is most important is customer safety."
More than two million Note 7s have been sold at the moment, according to Samsung, but the electronics company knows not how many of them are affected by the faulty battery issues.
Different companies are providing the phone's Li-ion batteries across the territories the smartphone is being sold in, and it does not appear that the manufacturing issue has affected all models.
Samsung said it "acknowledge[s] 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 replacement experience is as convenient and efficient as possible."
Among the reports of the hot-hot-hot smartphones was a video uploaded to YouTube, in which a user named Ariel Gonzalez claimed their device caught fire after he unplugged the charger.
UK customers who already have Galaxy Note 7 devices will be able to get them replaced with new less-exploding ones over the coming weeks. Although the smartphone is only available on preorder in the UK at the moment, some Samsung fans have managed to purchase theirs while travelling abroad. Owners are advised to call Samsung's customer service team on 0330 7261000.
Meanwhile, folks in America can check out this page for more information on the US exchange program. ®
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