Fear of explosion unnerves Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users

By Ko Dong-hwan

Many owners of Samsung Electronics’ latest Galaxy Note 7 smartphone are worried after reports of the device exploding.

Netizens who bought the phone said its battery, whether connected to a charger or not, may heat up and explode. Many said they are afraid because they usually keep their phone near them while charging at night.

Complaints about the device, which was released Aug. 19 and sold over 400,000 during a 13-day order period, came after several netizens posted photos of their burnt devices.

“I pre-ordered the phone and got it activated on Aug. 19,” one netizen said Wednesday on Kakao Story, a Korean SNS channel. “I heard yesterday news about a Note 7 explosion. I was worried the same may happen to me, so instead of putting it near my head, I put it on my desk while I was sleeping. On Wednesday at about 1 a.m., I heard an explosion and woke up to find my phone engulfed in flames and the room filled with smoke. I doused the device.”

Netizens said the problems started on Aug. 24.

Online complaints have led worried people to rush to mobile service retailers to request a refund.

“Some customers interested in the Note 7 visited and asked if Samsung will recall the device with possible explosion-related defects,” a mobile service retailer employee said, according to Yonhap news agency. “I answered I wasn’t sure. He then just left.”

Following the reports, some retailers have not received planned supplies of the device from the global electronics giant. A telecom industry source said the supply, scheduled for Wednesday, will be delayed until at least Friday over a quality issue.

Samsung Electronics is yet to give its official position. A Samsung spokesman said: “We are going to announce details over the issue soon.”