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Samsung’s solution to exploding Galaxy Note 7s is to shorten battery life

Published Sep 13th, 2016 9:00PM EDT
Galaxy Note 7 Recall
Image: Zach Epstein, BGR

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By now, you’ve probably heard that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 devices have a tendancy to go boom whilst charging. The company has already begun a “heartbreakingly” expensive recall, but that’s not the only solution.

The AP reports that in South Korea, Samsung will be issuing a software update for anyone who doesn’t want to immediately exchange their Note 7. The update will limit battery charge to just 60%, which should solve the exploding thing at the expense of battery life.

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The software patch will be for users who don’t want to exchange their Note 7 devices, or just haven’t got around to it yet. Consumer apathy is a major problem for recalls: people assume that the explosions won’t happen to them, so never bother to exchange devices.

Some members of the media in the US have suggested that Samsung should remotely brick or blacklist affected Note 7 devices, but this software patch seems to be the next best thing.

It’s unclear whether the software patch will be voluntary or mandatory, and if it will come overseas or just be limited to South Korea.

Samsung’s problems extend to 2.5 million Note 7 devices. 70 phones have reportedly exploded so far in the US, resulting in an official recall, and a ban from the FAA on using the devices while on an airplane.

Chris Mills
Chris Mills News Editor

Chris Mills has been a news editor and writer for over 15 years, starting at Future Publishing, Gawker Media, and then BGR. He studied at McGill University in Quebec, Canada.