Samsung issues second Galaxy Note7 recall in Australia after ‘safe’ phones reportedly catch fire

SAMSUNG has issued a second recall for its potentially dangerous Galaxy Note7 smartphone, asking users to send them all back, even ‘safe’ ones.

Woman use their smartphones near a Samsung store. Samsung suspended all production of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, halted sales worldwide and told customers to stop using the device. Picture: AFP PHOTO / Daniel Leal-Olivas

ONE day after it permanently pulled the plug on the Galaxy Note7, Samsung has issued a double recall in Australia, advising consumers to return all of the potentially dangerous smartphones for a refund or replacement device.

The beleaguered South Korean tech giant this afternoon said it was taking the “proactive and voluntary step to extend its current recall to all Galaxy Note7 smartphones in Australia, including those that were provided as replacement Galaxy Note7 devices”.

THE END: Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 is no more as Samsung stops production

The second recall follows five reports of “safe” replacement Note7 phones catching fire overseas, including one that forced the evacuation of a plane in the US.

It’s the end of the line for Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 smartphone. Picture: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

The replacement phones had only been available in limited numbers since September 21.

Samsung Electronics Australia mobile vice-president Richard Fink said the company took the move as a safety issue.

“We know our Galaxy Note customers are among our most loyal customers and we sincerely apologise to them,” Mr Fink said.

The company’s stock market value plunged more than $22 billion in South Korea yesterday as news of the Note7’s second faults emerged and Samsung halted shipments worldwide.

The company later permanently stopped production of the Note7, leaving Samsung without a new flagship smartphone for the important second half of the year.

The company will face competition from Sony’s new Xperia XZ smartphone and Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL due to launch in Australia on October 20, the new Moto Z and Moto Z Play phones from Motorola out tomorrow, and Apple’s iPhone 7.

Australians who still have a Galaxy Note7 handset have been advised to return the device to the carrier or store where they bought it for a full refund or a Samsung S7 or S7 Edge.

A Telstra spokesman said the company would contact its Galaxy Note7 customers to make them aware of the recall and organise “an alternative smartphone or a refund”.

Originally published as Samsung issues second Galaxy Note7 recall in Australia after ‘safe’ phones reportedly catch fire