Samsung Finally Revealed The Cause Of Its Exploding Phones

Update: At a press conference today in Seoul, South Korea, Samsung finally announced the cause of its exploding Galaxy Note 7 phones. According to the electronics company, problems within the phones' batteries, specifically missing insulation tape and faulty placement of electrodes, led to the explosion. While the batteries might be the ultimate cause, The New York Times points out the appropriate tests might have taken place ahead of time if Samsung hadn't rushed to beat Apple to market.

Update: October 11, 2016: In statements issued today, Samsung has now confirmed that it has completely discontinued production of the Galaxy Note 7. This is a first in the smartphone world. If you still have one, power down and follow these insane directions for getting rid of it. iPhone 7 Plus or Google Pixel, anyone? Update: October 10, 2016: Following last week's reports that replacement Galaxy Note 7's were also catching fire, Samsung has now completely halted production of the handset. AT&T and T-Mobile aren't selling the phone anymore or offering replacements, instead offering Note 7 owners a refund or a different replacement phone.

Update: October 6, 2016: After finally issuing replacement units to Galaxy Note 7 owners, it appears the battery issue is still a problem. The Verge reports that on a recent Southwest Airlines flight, a powered down Galaxy Note 7 began smoking, forcing an evacuation of the aircraft before takeoff. The phone in question wasn't one of those originally affected by the exploding battery issue, but rather a replacement handset.

Update: September 12, 2016: This piece was updated with recent news of an exploding phone leading to hotel charges, airplane warnings, and a six-year-old boy getting burned.

It's common enough to hear about food and furniture recalls, but less so for major tech products. Sure, there's the occasional car issue (and Apple's recent AC plug adapter recall), but when it comes to things such as your smartphone, a massive recall is very rare — which is why today's news is so shocking. In an unprecedented event, Samsung issued a global recall for its newest smartphone, the Galaxy Note7, just a month after the phone was released to rave reviews. Shortly after the Galaxy Note7 went on sale, some early bird buyers in the U.S. and South Korea shared photos and videos of burnt phones that had caught fire after or during charging. According to Samsung, the fires were caused by a battery cell issue. Such fires are a small risk with lithium-ion batteries, the type used in smartphones, but normally these occasions are extremely rare and isolated. One Reddit user even posted that his phone exploded in a hotel room in Australia, resulting in almost $1,400 in hotel fines. Getting overcharged for the minibar is usually bad enough, but having to deal with fees for an accident you had no control over is far worse. In an official statement about the recall, Samsung said: "In response to recently reported cases of the new Galaxy Note7, we conducted a thorough investigation and found a battery cell issue. To date (as of September 1), there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally, and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market. However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note7." We thought the phone, with its increased storage, gorgeous blue color, and interactive lock screen, would be the iPhone's biggest competitor yet. With a new iPhone just announced, this could be one huge nightmare come true for Samsung. In the weeks since the recall, the Federal Aviation Administration asked passengers to refrain from using the phone onboard airplanes and the Consumer Product Safety Commission has told people to turn off and stop using the phones. According to The New York Post, a six-year-old boy was burned when the phone exploded while he was playing video games. If you were one of the people who bought the phone, Samsung said it will replace your purchase in store. For now, be safe and use your old smartphone, if you've still got it.