Samsung dealt with a fair share of controversy last year when its Galaxy Note 7 kept catching fire. Yet that hasn’t stopped the company from bringing the previously banned phones back into circulation, as it is now planning to sell refurbished Note 7s to the public.
Samsung estimated that it lost more than $5 billion in profits due to the Note 7 being taken off the market last fall. It sold more than three million devices, and with the retail costs being close to $900, it is no wonder the tech giant wants to recoup some of those hefty losses.
So how will Samsung do it when the Galaxy Note 7 is still synonymous with “pocket-sized explosive?” Well, a new battery for starters.
Research by both Samsung and independent entities found no other issues besides the faulty batteries, which is why a refurbished model is a possibility. Samsung is still working on the specifics of the battery, a logical step to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Yet the company also wants to refurbish the phones as a way to be environmentally friendly, as the original plan was to toss every single Note 7 in circulation.
“The objective of introducing refurbished devices is solely to reduce and minimize any environmental impact,” a Samsung spokesperson said in a statement.
As of now, the South Korean company only plans on selling the phones in its home country, meaning Note 7 owners in the United States won’t have the opportunity to get their phones back. However, it’s too early to guess whether Samsung will change its mind if the phone is successful. It’s also too early to find out the specifics, as Samsung is keeping quiet on the phone’s details until further notice.
“The product details including the name, technical specification and price range will be announced when the device is available.”
Photo: Leszek Kobusinski / Shutterstock.com
