Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exchange programme: Latest updates on Samsung’s plans

Samsung has revealed that 57% of European Galaxy Note 7 owners have taken advantage of its exchange programme for the faulty device. And the Korean company has also set ambitious targets for when it plans to complete its replacement plans and put the device back on general sale. Still haven’t swapped your device? Or keen to get your hands on one of the new, unaffected handsets? Here’s everything you need to know about Samsung’s latest update on its Galaxy Note 7 exchange programme.

Huge number of faulty phones still out there

Samsung was keen to play up the fact that 57% of European Galaxy Note 7 owners had swapped their old phones, either for a new model, one of Samsung’s other handsets or a full refund.

However, that still leaves a massive 43% of faulty models out there. That’s worryingly high when you consider these phones can explode, with airlines insisting they are powered down when taken on flights.

Ambitious exchange plans

Samsung says that if swap rates continue at the current rate, it will have completed its exchange programme by the early October. That’s reliant on a lot of people coming forward and handing their phones in, despite the fact that Samsung issued a global recall of the handset a month ago. Can Samsung ensure all of its older models are returned before it puts the phone back on general sale?

A new on–sale date

Samsung may have backed itself into a corner with its ambitious timeframe for swapping all Galaxy Note 7 units. But it’s given itself extra pressure by saying that it will make the phone available to the general public across Europe from October 28th. That despite the fact that it’s had to push back the on–sale date for the phone in Korea due to reports that replacement devices were overheating and not charging properly.

Strong loyalty

Samsung says that 90% of the customers in Europe who’ve used the Galaxy Note 7 exchange programme have chosen to replace their old phone with the same model. 3% of opted for another Samsung phone, with the rest choosing to get their money back. This suggests Samsung may not see sales slide as badly as had been initially feared.

Stringent checks

To give Samsung credit, it’s being incredibly stringent when it comes to ensuring Galaxy Note 7 owners have a new device. Its Chief Marketing Officer, David Lowes, said in a statement, “All customers can use our online serial number (IMEI) tracker on Samsung.com, and when you receive your new device look out for the green battery symbol and a black square on the packaging to be 100% assured you have a brand new Note7. If anyone has any questions, please visit Samsung.com for more details.”

Samsung may have restarted sales of its Galaxy Note 7 following a global recall. But the Korean giant is facing up to a new raft of problems with its flagship handset, which could further dent sales and see its profits and share slide even more. What are these latest issues? How’s Samsung reacted? And should you trust Samsung or get a different phone entirely? Read on and we’ll get you clued in.

Samsung’s latest woes reared their head in its home country of Korea and relate to the devices which it gave to customers who took advantage of its Galaxy Note 7 exchange programme.

A number of users say that their replacement handsets are losing power rapidly, even while charging, suggesting that the battery in the reworked devices is still not working properly.

That’s not all. The same users have also claimed that their new phones are overheating too, getting dangerously hot while plugged into the mains.

No handsets have exploded, but seeing as this comes just weeks after Samsung’s biggest ever tech disaster, such claims will not make for happy reading in its Seoul HQ.

Batteries not to blame…apparently

Samsung has already reacted to these claims. It says that they are “isolated incidents” and that they were “completely unrelated to batteries”. Instead, a spokesman suggested they were due to “mass production issues”.

If that really is the case, then it’s likely that as Samsung’s replacement programme continues around the world we’ll be hearing more reports of the Galaxy Note 7 running low on power and overheating.

Delayed relaunch in home country

The news has, at least, led Samsung to take some action. It’s delayed the relaunch of the Galaxy Note 7 in Korea until October 1st, saying it wants to make sure that existing customers replace their broken phones first.

That’s led some experts to suggest that Samsung should perhaps focus full–time on the replacement programme and not put the Galaxy Note 7 back on the market until it has replaced every handset.

Use Samsung’s opt out

If you’ve got a Galaxy Note 7 and are thinking about swapping it, it may be worth taking advantage of Samsung’s offer of its more stable and equally impressive Galaxy S7 Edge.

That device has not had problems with exploding batteries and remains one of the best smartphones money can buy.

With Samsung’s problems seemingly unending, there’s no point in placing yourself at risk.

 

Samsung is facing another major headache, after it found itself on the receiving end of criticism in China about its faulty Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.

Despite issuing a global recall of the phone due to exploding batteries, Samsung did not actually recall the Galaxy Note 7 in China. It says this is because it used a different supplier for Chinese versions of the phone.

However, a string of consumer reports have claimed that devices in the country have also been exploding, leaving owners to wonder why they aren’t being offered replacement devices. Samsung is already testing one phone sold in China after it blew up.

More worryingly for Samsung, it’s been dubbed arrogant by Chinese state TV. Officials are said to be angry that the company issued an apology to customers in the U.S. but said that exploding handsets in China are not its fault.

The row is likely to hit Samsung’s profits, especially as China is an increasingly competitive smartphone market. Apple has grown rapidly there and local mobile makers continue to out perform brands which are bigger in the west.

Samsung has said sorry for any “confusion and unease” it’s created in China.