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Samsung is “confident” it has solved the battery issues that caused a recall of its Galaxy Note7 smartphone – and will relaunch the device in the UK at the end of October.
In early September, on the eve of the tech giant releasing the phone in the UK, a global recall was instead issued after multiple reports of the device overheating and catching fire.
Now the Korean firm says the problem has been dealt with, the majority of original Note7 devices in the UK and Europe have been replaced and the firm has now “overcome the problem”.
The company confirmed the phone would go back on sale in the UK on October 28.
Conor Pierce, vice president of Samsung’s mobile division in the UK, told the Press Association that manufacturing error has caused the problem.
“I can confidently say that the problem has been identified – it is not a device issue – it is related specifically to a battery cell through a manufacturing error and I think now that we have identified it, obviously all the proper steps have been put in place to ensure this is never going to happen again,” he said.
“We would not even be considering relaunching the device if we had any worry in that regard.”
Pierce added that the overheating issue was not widespread.
“This is not a device issue. The issue was isolated to a battery cell only caused by a rare manufacturing defect,” he said.
“As an overview, overheating of the battery cell occurred when the anode to cathode came into contact, which is a very rare manufacturing process error. So all our investigations and all our resources have been put onto this and while we’re putting a lot of focus on resolving that – which we have done – all our energy right now is focusing on the consumer and working with our partners.
“There has been an incredibly small number of devices that have been affected, so I think we erred on the side of caution when we made the decision, and the right decision, to pull back the launch.
“There’s been 35 reported cases globally, but that’s 35 cases too many for a brand that has built its success based on trust, quality and innovation.”
Analysts have suggested the defect and subsequent recall of phones – including more than 25,000 in Europe so far – could cost the technology giant up to a billion dollars and it has already seen share prices fall.
The company has also been hit by claims that some replaced devices are still overheating, but Samsung maintains the replacement phones are free of the battery issue.
“At the end of the day, all that really matters is the end user,” Mr Pierce said.
“We’ve put a huge amount of focus on making sure we take safety of the end user as a priority and make this a very seamless and easy exchange programme.
“The exchange programme went live a few weeks ago and to date we have over 75% of all activated Galaxy Note7 devices returned, and actually what’s even more encouraging is the fact that 90% of those that have returned are committed to staying with Samsung and preferably the Note7, so we have a very loyal base out there and it’s encouraging to see.”
