In the latest in the Note 7 recall, a 6-year old boy in the US has allegedly been burnt by a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 as it burst into flames while using it.
According to the boys grandmother, the boy was watching videos on the phone, a situation a lot of parents are familiar with, when the phone burst into flames, setting off the fire alarms in the apartment. The boy has been treated at a hospital in NYC and released, a lucky end result for all involved, though details on his condition weren’t released the child is understandably loathe to pick up a phone again.
According to the article, the boy’s family has been in contact with Samsung however there isn’t any word on follow-up at this stage.
Samsung for their part has been quite pro-active about the recall at this stage, sending out recall information, advising major news outlets Samsung has even been sending push notifications to the phone warning people to power down the device and return it for replacement or refund at their place of purchase.
I think at this stage we’ve made our perspective clear on people continuing to use the Galaxy Note 7, in short if you’re still using it you’re a bloody idiot. It’s a phone, not a pacemaker, whilst most of us may think we’d prefer to have our arm amputated than give up our high-end phone for a few days, it’s getting to the point that it’s just not worth the risk.
I think given that real chance we may choose a few weeks with a lesser device over a permanent injury. Samsung and carriers appear to be offering users either a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge as a loaner, or a Galaxy J1 Mini as a keeper for those returning their Note 7 under the recall. They may not be a Note 7, but face it people, these devices are burning while people use them.
We don’t know what causes the devices to burst into flames, but heat SEEMS to be a common thread. We have two Note 7’s here at Ausdroid, both of them have been boxed and we’ll be replacing them when the replacement stock starts to arrive on September 21.
The message from Samsung is clear to owners: “power down their device and return it to its place of purchase”.
If you see someone on the street, on the bus or anywhere using a Note 7 do the right thing and inform them of the risk. Don’t be a jerk but make sure they know, and if they don’t turn it off, swap buses.
If you think it won’t happen to you, just ask did the 6 year old’s grandmother think the same thing? A Samsung Galaxy J1 Mini may not be flash but it will make calls, receive texts and do other smartphone things, but most importantly, it won’t set you on fire either.
Just wanted to chime in here – I’ve been pretty cavalier with regards to returning my Note 7 up until hearing this story of one going off with normal use. We have a 7 month old son at home and this one hit home – trading for an S7Edge today via Optus, so fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.
Even in the sue happy country of america where you can sue someone for saying hello.
Samsung will win in court with no lawyers.
The recall was known about and they ignored it
known to whom? what if the personal doesn’t read any tech news or hardly watch any TV?
Reversed my contract with Optus and am now back on my S6. The phone was great but as Niknaks said, the flow on effects will last a lot longer than the recall. How are Virgin or Qantas supposed to know if your Note7 is old or new?
They’ll likely keep the ban long term. Not worth the hassle.
Beginning to wonder if it might be better for Samsung to completely write off this phone off. With various aviation authorities taking a stance and this kid getting hurt its hard to believe this phone is salvageable. Might be easier though controversial to just deactivate (as rumoured) all faulty devices and just draw a line in the sand. Even they fix the issue its going to be difficult for owners they have a fixed version of phone. It does not look worth it to progress with the launch.
Whilst I feel sorry for anyone getting hurt due to defective products (technology or not), but I am sorry, the Samsung Note 7 issue has been in the press (printed and TV) for the past week or so. This little kid got burnt due to the negligence of the grandmother. When will people learn that a recall is issued for a reason and that it should be obeyed. But as this was in USA, I can see a lawsuit coming Samsung’s way.
I can’t disagree, I’m a father, I’m very concerned for the boy but surely Samsung bears little responsibility here.
Do they need to go door to door to get the devices? I doubt they even know precisely where they all are
Couldn’t agree more. Given the worldwide scope of this unfortunate event, I think Samsung has gone about the remedial process in a more than highly professional manner. It’s just unfortunate that there are always those who choose to ignore warnings, take the “It will never happen to me” high ground.
A very selfish attitude really, they forget that others around them could be impacted, eg. the 6 year old.
Worse part is that I have a friend who has a Note 7 and refuses to listen to anyone. He continues to use his phone and leaves it on charge overnight. I have sent him a number of Ausdroid articles on the subject to no avail. I mean, this is an accident waiting to happen and he won’t listen.
This is exactly the it won’t happen to me behavior that might lead to tragedy. We’ve all had apps “go rogue” and consumer a lot of power for no reason. If that happens whilst on charge the device could cascade.
Sure that may be unlikely but I wouldn’t risk my life of my families over a great phone.
Great suggestion if they have to door to door. The responsible Telcos know who a lot of them are and where they live. The least Sammy could do. Given the dangerous situation that Samsung have created. How could this gross negligence ever have gotten to customers homes ! This is what you would expect out of backyard factories in China. Samsung need to get their marketing budget sent down to the factory production floor !