Galaxy Note 7 battery testing at Samsung. Photo via Samsung
After some information had already leaked last week, Samsung has today officially communicated the outcome of its investigation into the Galaxy Note 7 battery debacle. We already knew the problem was battery and not hardware-related, but now the Korean company has clarified that there were two different defects on the original Note 7s and the replacement units.
According to Samsung, on the original units the problems could be traced back to a design flaw in the upper right corner of the battery. Electrodes could bend too easily which led to a 'breakdown in the separation between positive and negative tabs, causing a short circuit.' The replacement units were shipped with batteries from a different supplier. Apparently the latter was in a rush to meet the demand which resulted in a manufacturing error that again could cause the battery to short circuit and ignite.
The report is the culmination of efforts from 700 members of staff who worked on the investigation which involved 200,000 devices and 30,000 additional batteries. Results have been backed up by three independent testers, UL, Exponent, and TÜV Rheinland.
Via Samsung
The battery flaw in the original devices could have detected through X-rays, for the replacement units disassembly would have been required, but none of those steps were part of Samsung's QC-procedures. However, this has now changed and the company has introduced an eight-point inspection process to prevent similar problems in the future.
Samsung's upcoming flagship device Galaxy S8 will undergo the new testing procedure which is presumably part of the reason why, contrary to expectations, it won't be released at the Mobile World Congress at the end of February. Instead consumers will reportedly have to wait until some time in April for the new high-end phone to arrive.
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