Samsung has had to predictably deal with a lot of bad press after it confirmed the Galaxy Note 7′s battery cell defect earlier this month and issued a global recall for the handset. Nobody was expecting Samsung’s new flagship handset to quite literally crash and burn merely weeks after it was released across the globe. Prior to Samsung’s admission of the issue, there were multiple reports of the Galaxy Note 7 exploding while being charged. Hundreds of Galaxy Note 7 units across the globe suffered the same fate as Samsung decided to voluntarily replace more than 2.5 million units shipped since launch. The media has highlighted developments on a daily basis but an argument can be made that Samsung is now a victim of unnecessary media hype.
The media does deserve credit since it highlighted the problem in the first place. Many rubbished the initial reports as isolated incidents but it was only after consistent reports did people start to believe that something might actually be wrong with the new flagship. Samsung soon confirmed the battery cell defect officially and the rest, as they say, is history. So while one can criticize the media now for unnecessarily hyping up the matter to an unbearable extent it’s contribution can not go unnoticed as well.
This just might be the first time that Samsung has had to recall a smartphone on such a massive scale. It’s a good thing that the issue was caught merely weeks after release because by then the handset hadn’t even been released in all markets. Over the past few weeks, Samsung has been voluntarily replacing all faulty handsets shipped across the globe with new Galaxy Note 7 units that feature safe batteries. It has also provided customers the opportunity to obtain a refund for their existing unit if they no longer have faith in the flagship. While some have criticized the way Samsung has handled the Galaxy Note 7 recall others believe that it has done everything that it should have to address the issue.
Samsung is now also having to deal with false reports as well. The company recently highlighted multiple false reports of issues with the Galaxy Note 7 that were simply trying to cash in on the media hype that this entire debacle has created. We’re also seeing reports of other Samsung devices suffering the same fate even though they are completely unrelated to the Galaxy Note 7 but are being reported in the same vein just because of the hype that has already been created.
For example, it was recently reported that a Galaxy Note 2 started emitting smoke onboard a flight in India and almost every single outlet that covered the news mentioned the Galaxy Note 7′s troubles. Had there not been an issue with the new flagship chances are the minor incident may not have gained any traction in the media because batteries in old handsets are likely to develop faults. The Galaxy Note 2 has been out for several years now and there’s absolutely no truth to the fact that it suffers from the same battery defect as the Galaxy Note 7.
Then there was the news of a Samsung tablet apparently overheating on a plane because it became wedged between a seat. There’s nothing wrong with the tablet and the tablet only heated up because it was subjected to external factors beyond what it was made to sustain. Modern mobile devices have lithium batteries which are created to provide high output while being lightweight. The partitions and case are thin which is why they can easily puncture and if the electrodes touch as a result of that an instant explosive electrical discharge is the only possibility. The tablet can’t be blamed for overheating when it’s literally crushed between an airline seat. Even Samsung said that this was due to “external factors,” and had to clarify that the incident isn’t related to the Galaxy Note 7.
If that wasn’t enough, absurd reports of Samsung’s washing machines “exploding” in the United States have also been making rounds. Washing machines don’t have lithium batteries so they can’t possibly be facing the same issue as the company’s flagship smartphone. There does appear to be an issue with some Samsung washing machines but it’s a mechanical issue and not a chemical one. Reports suggest that the machines are basically flying apart because one of the rods that is supposed to be keeping everything together is failing under heavy load. The rod slides out which causes the washing machine to fly apart. Yet most of the reports you will read about this mention an apparent explosion as if any parallels can be drawn between Samsung washing machines and the Galaxy Note 7.
The simple fact is that people are now more aware of the old Galaxy Note 7′s tendency to explode that many instantly draw the same conclusion for other Samsung devices. Some sections of the media unnecessarily exacerbate things as they jump on unrelated stories as well just to tie them together with what actually happened. Had there been no battery cell defects in the Galaxy Note 7 chances are you may not have seen these stories being widely reported in the media.
It’s downright absurd to believe that every device Samsung creates from now on will have a tendency to explode. I believe it’s frustrating to see people draw the same conclusion again and again without realizing that recalls are not an anomaly and are a part of business. They happen in every industry and Samsung will no doubt chalk it up as the cost of doing business and move on. It’s time that the media move on as well.
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