Samsung Electronics has announced the cause of the Note 7 incidents and measures to prevent a recurrence during a press conference held in Seoul, Korea.

DJ Koh, president of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, shared detailed results of the investigation and expressed his sincere apology and gratitude to Galaxy Note7 customers, mobile operators, retail and distribution partners and business partners for their patience and continued support.

The overheating was caused by separate problems in batteries sourced from two different suppliers, the company said. Its findings are based on  own investigation and independent scientific analysis of the issues by three consulting bodies.

In the case of batteries sourced from Samsung SDI, there wasn’t enough room between the heat-sealed protective pouch around the battery and its internals. Because the phone was so slim, tight quarters placed stress on the upper right corner of each battery. In the worst scenarios, that caused electrodes inside each battery to crimp and come into contact, leading to thermal runaway and short circuiting, said a report in Wired website.

In the case of batteries sourced from Amperex Technology, some cells were missing insulation tape, and some batteries had sharp protrusions inside the cell that led to damage to the separator between the anode and cathode. The batteries also had thin separators in general, which increased the risks of separator damage and short circuiting, the company said.

The findings were announced after testing 200,000 devices and 30,000 batteries in a giant charging and recharging test facility built for the task.

Koh said a team of 700 company engineers conducted internal testing, and independent reviews of potential problems were carried out by UL, Exponent, and TÜV Rheinland.

Based on what the company learned from the investigation, Samsung implemented a broad range of internal quality and safety processes to further enhance product safety including additional protocols such as the multi-layer safety measures and eight-point battery safety check.

 Samsung also formed a battery advisory group of external advisers, academic and research experts to ensure it maintains a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation, the company said.

“For the last several months, together with independent industry expert organizations, we conducted thorough investigation to find cause to the Galaxy Note7 incidents.” Koh said, “Today, more than ever, we are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences.”

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted Koh as saying the company will not unveil its Galaxy S8 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show this year, suggesting the flagship model's launch may be later in the year than its 2016 version.

Koh said the phone would not get a launch event at the MWC event in Barcelona, which begins on February 27, unlike the previous Galaxy S smartphones. - TradeArabia News Service