Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 7 last fall with expectations of gaining a higher market share owing to the huge popularity of its Note range, but that was not to be the company’s destiny. The device, which saw massive popularity initially, carried a risk of exploding, which led the Korean firm to recall the device.
How Samsung plans to make the Note 7 unusable
The devices were taken off the shelf, and buyers were asked to exchange or return them. However, seeing the damage and injuries that users have suffered, the company will not let those who have not yet returned or exchanged their Note 7 continue using it.
Samsung has decided to disable charging completely on it via a mandatory software update, forcing current Note 7 holders to surrender their devices, according to The Korea Herald.
What Samsung did earlier
Previously, the company took some serious measures to discourage users from holding on to the phone, like putting a ceiling on the maximum percentage of charge and blocking users from registering on mobile networks.
Samsung launched a Note 7 Refund and Exchange Program, allowing owners to exchange their device for another smartphone. The company also offered to replace Note 7-specific accessories with those of the model users exchanged their phone for and a refund for the price difference between the devices.
The program saw massive success with about 96% of the issued devices being returned or exchanged, but there are still thousands of devices with users. This latest step of disabling charging will render the remaining devices unusable, leaving no option but to return the Note 7.
Batteries to blame
Samsung’s Chief Mobile Executive, DJ Koh, recently said that the battery supplies from two sources were to blame. The lithium-ion-batteries have a component called a separator, which makes sure that the negative and positive electrodes do not come into contact because if they do, the amount of heat that’s generated would be enough to cause an explosion. The batteries sourced from Samsung’s own SDI division short-circuited because their separators were damaged, while those secured from Amperex Technology based in Hong Kong had issues like protrusions.
The Note 7 disaster helped rival Apple, as many Android lovers intending to update their phones switched to the latest iPhone. Bu, Samsung hopes to win back buyers with its other new models. The new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ flagship are set to be unveiled on Wednesday.
