Samsung Note 7: US regulators order 1m phones recall

US regulators have formally ordered Samsung to recall one million of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, as more reports of the device’s exploding battery come in.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission was prompted to take such action due to concerns over the fire hazard the Galaxy Note 7’s battery pack can cause.

According to the Commission’s website, so far, there have been 92 reports of the batteries overheating in the US – which includes 26 reports of burns and 55 of property damage.

When the worldwide Samsung company recall was started at the end of last month, Samsung reported 35 battery fire cases globally.

“The lithium-ion battery in the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones can overheat and catch fire, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers,” the regulator said.

To handle the situation in the UK, Samsung has set up an exchange programme for its Galaxy Note 7 to facilitate the recall process.

The Korean tech giant is currently working with its supplier partners and mobile operators to voluntarily replace every Galaxy Note 7 it has sold, some 2.5 million units worldwide.

In the UK, the exchange programme will see customers get contacted by the provider or operator they received their Galaxy Note 7 from, who will then arrange for an exchange. These exchanges will begin from 19 September.

Pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 7 will also be delayed as Samsung works with its partners to supply a safe replacement smartphone as soon as possible.