When Samsung first issued a worldwide recall of its ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 back in September, units sold in China were not recalled as the company stated that these devices had no issue. The devices which were sold in China, did not contain the problematic battery which was produced by Samsung SDI, a subsidiary of Samsung. Only a small portion of the devices, which numbered around 2,000 units or so which were sold in China were recalled as these were sold by third party shops and contained the problematic battery. However, in a turn of events, the South Korean company has just released an official statement, recalling all Galaxy Note 7 units which were sold in China, be it a unit from the initial launch, or a replacement unit.
In a statement posted on its Chinese website, Samsung announced that it will be stopping sales and replacements for the Galaxy Note 7, similar to what the company has done in other markets. If you are a Galaxy Note 7 owner in China or anywhere else in the world, you can head over to your respective point of purchase and request a full refund or exchange for a different Samsung smartphone. It is also highly recommended that you turn off your Galaxy Note 7 this instant, rather than risk any harm to yourself or others. According to a memo released by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine regulator (GAQSIQ), about 190,984 Galaxy Note 7 units were sold in China before it was pulled from shelves.
This news comes after multiple cases of replacement Galaxy Note 7 units bursting into flames were reported from all over the world, though none have been reported from China so far. Instead of issuing a second recall, Samsung has decided to announce that it would be permanently halting the sale of its flagship phablet worldwide, bringing an end to the short lifespan of the Galaxy Note 7. Analysts have predicted that this move by Samsung will likely cause the company a loss of at least $17 billion, and will affect the sale of its other smartphones, as the reputation of the firm has already been tarnished by this issue. Samsung is currently investigating the cause of these fires with the relevant authorities.