Samsung Says Efforts To Increase Galaxy Note 7 Battery Life Caused Device To Catch Fire

​

Smartphone giant Samsung has blamed faulty batteries for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year, as it sought to draw a line under a damaging scandal.

The South Korean company was forced to discontinue the smartphone, originally intended to compete with Apple’s iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire.

The debacle cost the company billions in lost profit and reputation.

Internal and independent investigations “concluded that batteries were found to be the cause of the Note 7 incidents”, Samsung said in a statement on Monday.

“We sincerely apologise for the discomfort and concern we have caused to our customers,” said Koh Dong-jin, the head of its mobile business, bowing before hundreds of reporters and cameramen at a press conference.

We wanted to increase the battery capacity as much as possible. Our battery suppliers, in order to meet our needs, applied new designs and manufacturing technologies. Conclusively speaking, the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 burning incident was in the batteries.”

Analysts said Samsung was looking to move on through the announcement, which did not implicate other devices.

“Consumers tend to be forgiving the first time,” Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Technology, told AFP news agency.

“But if it happens again, it will leave a lasting mark on Samsung’s quality and brand image.”

Samsung had concentrated on innovative design, thinness and battery capacity rather than safety, he said.

News reporting from South Korea’s capital, Seoul, said the “key test of consumer confidence” will come with this year’s launch of its next flagship handset: Galaxy S8.

The expected unveiling of the new phone at next month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, has reportedly been delayed to ensure it had no safety problems.