Samsung to sell refurbished Galaxy Note 7s

SEOUL: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said late on Monday that it plans to sell refurbished versions of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, the model pulled from markets last year due to fireprone batteries.

Samsung’s Note 7s were permanently scrapped in October following a global recall, roughly two months from the launch of the near-$900 devices, after some phones self-combusted. A subsequent probe found manufacturing problems in batteries supplied by two different companies — Samsung SDI Co Ltd and Amperex Technology Ltd.

Samsung’s announcement that revamped Note 7s will go back on sale, however, surprised some with the timing — just days before it launches its new S8 smartphone on Wednesday in the US, its first new premium phone since the debacle last year.

Samsung is under huge pressure to turn its image around after the burning battery scandal.

Samsung said in a statement to Reuters that the company has not set specifics on refurbished Note 7 sales plans, including what markets and when they would go on sale, though noting the phones will not be sold in India as some media reported earlier this year.

The tech giant said refurbished Note 7s will be equipped with new batteries that have gone through new battery safety measures.