Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fires were caused by design and manufacturing issues with the phones' batteries, according to an investigation into the matter.
Samsung said Monday that its latest smartphone, the Galaxy S8, could be delayed until the company can assure that the product is safe for consumers amid results of a probe involving the Note 7, Reuters reported.
Following a months-long investigation into the matter, the smartphone’s manufacturer said faulty batteries were the cause of over 5 million Galaxy Note 7s being taken off the market in 2016.
Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jin said the company is currently working to ensure that the same problems don’t occur with the Galaxy S8.
“The lessons of this incident are deeply reflected in our culture and process,” Koh said at a press briefing in South Korea on Monday, according to Reuters. “Samsung Electronics will be working hard to regain consumer trust.”
Two suppliers apparently made the faulty batteries.
There were several cases where the phones would overheat and catch fire, according to The New York Times.
As far as the issues with the design of the phones, Samsung said the devices contained “an unusually thin lining between the electrodes of the battery,” the Times noted.
“We are taking responsibility for our failure to ultimately identify and verify the issues arising out of the battery design and manufacturing process prior to the launch of the Note 7,” said Dong-jin.
The cancellation of the Galaxy Note 7 was a huge loss for the company financially, amounting to about $6.2 billion, according to the Times.
Part of the problem is said to be the fact that Samsung rushed to release the Note 7 in order to stay ahead of its completion, Apple, which released the iPhone 7 the same year.
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