A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is displayed during a launch event for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 at the Hammerstein Ballroom, August 2, 2016 in New York City. (Photo : GettyImages/Drew Angerer)
Samsung has confirmed that Galaxy Note 7 shipments will be delayed in the coming days or weeks but provided no explanation as rumors indicate that the South Korean tech giant might be dealing with some sort of a Batterygate. Local reports from Korea pointed to at least two incidents of explosion while the Note 7 was charging.
BGR said in a report that Samsung temporarily stopped delivering the Galaxy Note 7 following reports that two owners of the newly-released Android phablet claimed that the devices exploded while charging up. A Korean carrier was reported as saying that Note 7 shipments have halted for unspecified reasons.
But the same speculated that "the (shipment) suspension is because of production constraints or a probe into the recent explosions." Still, BGR said that sales of the Galaxy Note 7 on markets where it is already released, which includes the United States, will continue.
However, the likelihood of eventual supply shortage is feared as Samsung is yet to clarify when it will resume the Galaxy Note 7 shipments.
For now, there is no telling how long the shipment suspension will last as Reuters reported that Samsung has confirmed that it is sorting quality control problems that directly involved the Galaxy Note 7. "Shipments of the Galaxy Note 7 are being delayed due to additional tests being conducted for product quality," the news agency reported the Korean company as saying in a statement.
The Note 7 maker opted to remain silent on the cause of the temporary halt on shipments and refuse to comment on what other reports have termed as Batterygate that likely will impact on the sales of the new flagship phone.
But according to Hyundai Securities, the perceived Note 7 is likely limited only to modules or specific parts that have gone haywire. The investment firm told Reuters that in such cases, replacing the malfunctioning parts will be the quick fix and should resolve the shipment delays in no time.
"Such problems can be addressed by replacing parts and modules and changing the design of circuits, so supply problems for the Galaxy Note 7 should ease within a matter of few weeks," Hyundai Securities said in a report.
The Galaxy Note 7 debuted to rousing reviews and quickly earned the best 2016 smartphone label. Samsung said that demand for its second flagship is far outstripping supply.
