US government: Stop using the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 right now
Image: File photo
On the heels of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging passengers to not to use or charge Samsung's latest smartphone while on a plane, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is instructing Note 7 owners to immediately power down the device and stop using it.
Samsung issued a voluntary recall after the company confirmed a battery defect could result in a Note 7 catching fire or exploding. The company acknowledged 35 separate incidents as of Sept. 1.
However, a Florida man posted photos earlier this week of his Jeep engulfed in flames. He claims his Note 7 sparked the fire while charging inside his car.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent government agency charged with issuing warnings and recalls for hazardous consumer products.
Exploding Galaxy Note 7 models fit that criteria, and now the agency is chiming in.
The statement published on the agency's website reads in part:
Lithium-ion batteries pack a lot of power into a small package. When these batteries overheat and burst, the results can be serious. This is why the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging all consumers who own a Samsung Galaxy Note7 to power them down and stop charging or using the device.
The release goes on to state incidents of the Note 7 starting a fire have occurred while the device was charging and during "normal" use.
Shortly after the CPSC issued its press release, Samsung confirmed it was working with the agency on a formal recall, and it reinforced the request that Note 7 owners immediately power down the smartphone and stop using it: "We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note7s and exchange them now," said Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America. He also said "replacement devices will be issued to exchange program participants upon completion of the CPSC process. In the interim, consumers can return their Note7 for another device".
A formal recall is expected to be announced "as soon as possible", but in the mean time, you should take the agency's advice and stop using the Note 7. Seriously, folks, it's not worth it.
Carriers in the US are accepting returns, with Sprint offering loaner devices until repaired Note 7 models are available. For more information on how to handle your Note 7 once you've turned it off, you can read about your next steps in this post.
Editor's Note: This post has been updated with a statement from Samsung.