Samsung Galaxy Note 4 batteries recalled days before Note 8 launch
Samsung is recalling thousands of batteries from its Galaxy
Note 4 smartphone, raising concerns about the launch of the next generation of
the device next week.
The Korean electronics giant is recalling 10,000 batteries
fitted in the 2014 model of the Note phone that were fixed as part of a US
insurance programme.
Unlike the Note 7 debacle, which led to a global recall of
millions of phones because of a manufacturing fault in the batteries, the Note
4 problem only affects devices that were repaired by FedEx Supply Chain through
AT&T's insurance programme.
Some of the devices in the scheme, distributed between
December 2016 and April 2017, were fitted with "counterfeit"
batteries, which caused them to overheat, according to Samsung.
The incident comes at a crucial time for Samsung, which is
hoping to regain consumer confidence in the Note brand when it unveils the
Galaxy Note 8 next week.
Samsung was forced to globally recall the Note 7 after
dozens of reports of the device overheating and, in some cases, exploding. The
botched launch cost the firm billions of dollars in lost profits and knocked
its global reputation.
The Galaxy Note 8 is expected to be Samsung's largest and
most expensive smartphone to date. It will reportedly cost £900 and will come
with a 6.3-inch edge-to-edge display.
Sales of Samsung's Galaxy S8 indicate the company has
recovered from the recall, but the device has not performed as well as the S7
from 2016.
Samsung blamed the recent, separate problem on a mistake by
FedEx.
"FedEx Supply Chain is conducting this recall of non-genuine
Samsung batteries as some of them are counterfeit," said Samsung.
"The refurbishment program was managed by FedEx Supply Chain and operated
independently of Samsung."
It added that affected customers should contact FedEx Supply
Chain, which will replace the faulty batteries.
The US consumer watchdog advised owners who are concerned
their device could be affected to stop using the battery immediately.
