Beware: Some Active Note 7 Handsets Might Still Be Around, Waiting To Explode

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The smartphone world will never forget the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, a popular handset that was eventually scrapped. The handset faced battery quality issues resulting in personal and property damages, and thus, it had to be recalled. However, it appears not all Note 7 handsets reached Samsung; some are still in use.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was popular, but scrapped

Following the initial reports of fires caused by Note 7 handsets, Samsung recalled the phone in the U.S. and launched exchange programs in other countries. However, incidents of replacement units catching fire started occurring in early October 2016. After this, Samsung advised all Note 7 users to stop using the phones and return them. The handset maker then discontinued the phone–permanently.

“Taking our customer’s safety as our highest priority, we have decided to halt sales and production of the Galaxy Note 7,” Samsung said in October 2016.

Shortly after, U.S. authorities issued a second recall and banned the Note 7. Passengers were also forbidden from carrying the Note 7 on airplanes. The Korean firm did all it could to push users to return their Note 7 handsets. Since December 2016, the company also pushed out several updates in an attempt to render the handsets unusable. Carriers also stepped in by blocking SIM cards used in Note 7 handsets.

Some Note 7 devices still active

Despite such efforts, it appears some users are still holding on to their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets. Such users might have skipped the software updates or modified their handsets to keep them running. A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 subreddit still sees some occasional activity, and there are still some die-hard Note 7 users out there, according to Android Central. Even Samsung’s own recall page stated as of April 2018 that “nearly all” recalled Note 7s have been returned. This probably means s0me active devices are still out there.

It comes as a surprise that some users are still holding on to their Note 7 despite such efforts from Samsung and mobile carriers. It was somewhat understandable that users were holding on to their Note 7 following the initial reports of the fires, but holding on to it now is madness. Such users are not just risking their own lives, but also those of others around them.

It is high time that such users move on, and they have plenty of options to choose from. The Note 8 has already been on the market for some time now. Moreover, Samsung even launched the Note 7 Fan Edition in some markets. The Fan Edition, which was launched in July 2017, was made from the components of new, unused, and unsold Note 7 devices. It had the same specs as the original Note 7, but a smaller 3200mAh battery that passed Samsung’s new security standards.

If you are wondering what happened to the recalled Note 7 handsets, Samsung revealed plans last year to break them down into component parts like chips, cameras and displays to be used or sold. The Korean firm expected to recover 157 metric tons worth of rare metals from Note 7 scrap.

Here’s what to expect from the Note 9

With the Galaxy Note 7 episode almost over, except for the few who are still in love with it, and the Note 8 already on the market, rumors are rife for the Note 9, which is expected to launch next month. Samsung has already sent out invitations for the launch event, which is set to be held in Brooklyn, New York.

The Samsung Note 9 is expected to be a big update from the Note 8, but the outer look of the handset will likely be similar with minimal changes. Leaked renderings of the upcoming phablet suggest that buttons, sensors and everything else will be the same as those on the Note 8. Further, leaked official marketing material for the Note 9 shows the handset with a USB-C port, headphone jack and S Pen slot which look more or less similar to the Note 8.

However, the same image showed the S Pen in a new yellow color. The invitation for the Note 9 launch event also showed a yellow S Pen, but reports suggest this shade might only come with the blue handset. Further, rumors indicate the Note 9 will be dust and water resistant. The handset is also expected to be powered by the Exynos 9820 chipset.

In addition, the Note 9 is expected to get Bixby 2.0 and an improved dual-lens camera, possibly with HDR video recording. The feature was missing in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, but it is in recent LG and Sony phones.

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