Samsung confirms Note 7 fault
Samsung has confirmed that defective batteries were behind the Galaxy Note 7 catching fire.
The Galaxy Note 7 smartphone was recalled twice in an unprecedented consumer safety crisis.
Samsung recalled the Galaxy Note 7 phone first on September 2 last year, citing a defective lithium-ion battery after confirming reports that the phone tended to overheat or catch fire.
In October the South Korean firm recalled its replacement Note 7s after finding they also were prone to catch fire.
Investigations made by the electronics giant showed there were two separate faults with the two batteries involved.
The first battery had a defective part that created multiple paths for a potential short circuit.
The second battery displayed signs that a short circuit had occurred on the electrode area.
Samsung used 700 researchers and engineers to replicate the incidents and tested more than 200,000 devices and 30,000 batteries. The investigation covered all aspects of the Galaxy Note 7, including hardware, software, assembly, quality assurance and logistics.
As a result, the company implemented a range of safety processes such as multi-layer safety measures and an ‘‘eightpoint battery safety check’’.
A ‘‘battery advisory group’’ has also been formed to ‘‘maintain a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation’’.
The phones were blacklisted in New Zealand by the Telecommunications Forum last year and Air New Zealand banned the phone from all of its flights.
According to Samsung, 98 per cent of affected Galaxy Note 7 phones in New Zealand have been returned to Samsung.
In a statement the company said: ‘‘We are taking responsibility for our failure to ultimately identify and verify the issues arising out of battery design and manufacturing process prior to the launch of the Note 7.’’ –Fairfax NZ