Reports of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphones exploding and catching fire flooded the news in August 2016. Within a month, Samsung issued its initial recall; it later removed the product from the market completely.
Samsung conducted its own internal investigation, along with a few third parties that conducted investigations of their own. Earlier this week, Samsung released a statement blaming the explosions on problems with design and manufacturing of the lithium-ion batteries used in the Note 7.
Samsung Battery Hazards Were a Two-Part Problem
Samsung used two manufacturers to make batteries for the phones. Batteries from one manufacturer it refers to as Battery A and batteries from the other manufacturer it refers to as Battery B. The investigation found problems with both.
In Battery A, there was not enough space between the positive and negative electrodes in the battery, allowing them to touch and short circuit. In Battery B, the investigation found that a manufacturing defect was to blame for the explosions, specifically faulty welding that could lead to a short circuit.
Initially, the Note 7 recall affected only phones with Battery A and replaced those batteries with Battery B. But the phones with Battery B also started to explode, and Samsung eventually removed the product from the market.
How will the Galaxy Note 7’s issues affect Samsung’s next phones?
Analysts claim the Note 7 was a risky product from the beginning, with Samsung promising too many features in too little time. Some believe Samsung rushed the Note 7 development to beat the iPhone 7, as Fast Company reports. The developers attempted to make the phone as thin as possible, and with that challenge came the need to manufacture thin batteries. As the battery becomes thinner, it increases the risk of the positive and electrodes touching and short circuiting.
Reducing Risk of Burns from Electronic Devices
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is not the only phone or small electronic device that has made the news for burn and explosion risks. E-cigarettes and vaping devices have exploded and burned consumers, while larger devices like laptops can overheat and produce fire or contact burn risks.
For more updates on consumer product recalls for burn hazards, follow our blog. If you were burned by a consumer product and would like to speak with a lawyer about filing a lawsuit, call 844-549-8774 to speak with our lawyer referral specialists who can help you find a lawyer.
