Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Explosion Controversy

Overview

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Explosion Controversy refers to reports that Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone batteries were exploding while charging beginning in August 2016, which led to a worldwide recalls and a permanent end to production of the device.

Background

On August 19th, 2016, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in the United States. On August 31st, Samsung delayed shipments of the device in following reports that batteries were exploding while charging in South Korea.^[1]

Developments

First Recall

On September 1st, 2016, the South Korean news site Yonhap^[2] reported that Samsung would be recalling the device worldwide due to the reports of faulty batteries. The following day, Samsung halted all Galaxy Note 7 sales, enacting an exchange program for customers to trade-in their smartphone for a replacement or other Galaxy S7 models. On September 15th, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an official recall of all Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, advising all owners to immediately discontinue use of the devices. On September 19th, Samsung launched a Note7Recall^[3] site, allowing customers to input their phone's IMEI number to check if their device was likely to be faulty.

Second Recall

In early October 2016, several reports that replacement Note 7 batteries explosions led all five major wireless carries to suspend sales of the devices in the United States. On October 11th, Samsung announced they would discontinue production of the device permanently.

Online Reactions

On September 10th, the "Nigga you just went full plebian" Facebook^[4] page posted a photograph of a burning automobile with caption "When your friend tells you to pass them the Samsung Galaxy Note 7" (shown below, left). On September 12th, Redditor bjrnlxndr posted a photoshopped image of Psy walking away from an explosion in the "Gangnam Style" music video with a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 logo placed in the bottom left corner (shown below, right). In the first month, the post gained over 3,000 votes (89% upvoted) on /r/funny.^[5]

On September 27th, 2016, Redditor Juicy_Pete submitted a photograph in which two fire extinguishers are placed behind a Galaxy Note 7 exhibition to /r/mildlyinteresting,^[6] where it accumulated more than 8,100 votes (89% upvoted) and 500 comments within two weeks (shown below).

On October 9th, the @TheGameArmory Twitter feed posted a video of a Grand Theft Auto V mod featuring Samsung Galaxy Note 7 grenades (shown below).

Search Interest

External References