Just when we thought the issues with overheating Samsung batteries had passed, the company has announced a recall of about 10,200 lithium-ion batteries because of overheating, fire, and burn hazards.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall on August 16, 2017, noting that these are batteries that have been placed in refurbished phones.
Samsung Recalls Batteries in Refurbished PhonesCustomers who are using refurbished AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 4 cell phones distributed as replacement phones through AT&T’s insurance program may be affected. Samsung has determined that some of the recalled SamsungSmartphone Battery batteries are counterfeit and show anomalies that can lead to overheating. The phones were provided as replacement phones between December 2016 and April 2017.
Samsung has advised consumers to stop using the batteries immediately, and to power down their cell phones. Then they should expect to receive by mail from FedEx Supply Chain a free, new replacement battery and a postage paid box to return the recalled battery. Consumers can identify the new, replacement batteries by a green dot that has been affixed to them.
So far, there have been no reports of property damage or injuries related to this recall.
Samsung Recalled One Million Phones in 2016Back in September 2016, the CPSC announced the recall of Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones, because they contained lithium-ion batteries that could overheat and catch fire. The phones were sold before the recall date at stores nationwide, including AT&T, Best Buy, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon.
Prior to the recall, Samsung received 92 reports of the batteries overheating, including 26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damage, including fires in cars and a garage. The recall affected about 1 million units, and Samsung promised free replacements for consumers.
In January 2017, Recode Media reported that after months of investigating, Samsung had concluded that there was nothing wrong with their Galaxy Note7 phones, but instead, they discovered flaws with the batteries themselves. In one, a design flaw caused the electrodes to bend, which could lead to a connection between the positive and negative tabs, causing a short circuit.
In a second battery Samsung obtained from another provider, a manufacturing issue led to a welding defect that prompted the battery to short circuit and ignite.
Manufacturers Responsible for Battery SafetyIt’s not only phones struggling with lithium-ion batteries. Other devices, including e-cigarettes and hoverboards, have been in the news because of overheating-related incidences and injuries. These batteries are popular because they store a lot of energy in a small space , so they work well for powering many different products, but they are naturally vulnerable to short-circuiting and over-charging. They are also filled with a flammable substance that can explode when it gets too hot.
As technology continues to move forward at breakneck speeds, manufacturers must take steps to make sure their batteries are safe. Proper protection Samsung Cell Phone batteries can reduce the risk of short-circuiting and overheating, while increasing resistance to physical abuse.
The best Samsung Galaxy phones right now (and which foldables you should buy)
Shopping for a new Samsung phone battery?ZDNET’s tested and rounded up the very best, including foldables, ones with styli, and options for the budget-minded.
Of all the Samsung phones batteries manufacturers, Samsung’s lineup of handsets may be the most robust, Want a phone that has a built-in stylus? You’ve got that. Want a phone that can expand into a tablet? You’ve got that too.
Basically, finding the best Samsung phone for you boils down to your personal needs, use cases, and design preferences. Trust me, you’ll have plenty of options laid out below, and not every one of them will be the right fit for you.
To make the shopping process easy, we’ve personally tested most, if not all, the latest Galaxy phones that Samsung has to offer, and assembled a catalog of the top options for your choosing, including the more recent Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold series, the value-driven A-series, and our top pick right now, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The best Samsung phones in 2023Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraBest Samsung phone overall
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Display: 6.8 inches | RAM/Storage Options: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB | Rear cameras: 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 10x optical, 10MP 3x optical | Battery: 5,000mAh
In the grand calculus of the Samsung multiverse, the Galaxy S23 Ultra reigns supreme. It’s arguably the most no-frills smartphone that you can buy on the market, let alone from Samsung, which puts it at the top spot on our list.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display, a beefy 5,000mAh battery that can last you as long as two days, a customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor to keep things running efficiently, and the sacred Samsung S Pen — ideal for jotting down notes, graphics designing, or even signing PDFs.
I tested the Galaxy S23 Ultra earlier this year and called it “one of the most complete handsets you can buy this year — whether you like and need the excessive amount of features or not.”
Being the latest and greatest also means that the S23 Ultra comes equipped with Samsung’s newest advancements in camera technology, including a 200-megapixel main lens that’s capable of capturing the highest-resolution images we’ve seen on any Galaxy phone. There’s also 8K video recording at 30 frames per second if you’re into that.
All this is to say that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is our pick for the best Samsung phone overall.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 PlusBest Samsung phone for most peopleGalaxy S23 Plus on a table.Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Display: 6.6 inches | RAM/Storage: 8GB RAM with 256GB/512TB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto| Battery: 4,700mAh
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Plus is not as flashy as its Ultra sibling but remains a formidable pick-up for shoppers eyeing a meaningful upgrade. In fact, the core experience of the Ultra model is present on the Plus, including the OneUI software, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, 256GB of base storage, and a flexible camera system.
In fact, I’d argue that the Plus-sized Galaxy S23, in some ways, is an even better phone to buy for some users. For example, it has a slightly smaller 6.6-inch display that makes it easier to manage with one hand, the panel is flat along the edges so it’s less susceptible to damage (and easier to repair), and the camera system doesn’t look like a tarantula staring back at you.
Alright, that last point might not be the best reason to buy the Plus model over the Ultra, but perhaps the $200 price difference is. At a starting price of $999 — less if you wait for the holiday shopping season right around the corner – – the S23 Plus is the best Samsung phone for those who can live without all the Galaxy bells and whistles. And according to ZDNET reviewer, Jason Cipriani, “as far as the S23 Plus is concerned, you’re getting your money’s worth.”Samsung Cell Phone batteriesZ Fold 5Best Samsung foldable phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Main display: 7.6 inches | Cover display: 6.2 inches | RAM/Storage: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB internal options | Cameras: 12MP ultrawide, 50MP wide angle, 10MP 3x telephoto, 10MP cover screen, 4MP under main display | Battery: 4,400mAh
The 2020 Galaxy Z Fold 2 set the bar for foldable devices that also serve as mini tablets. The Z Fold 3 improved on that phone with two of the most highly requested features from Fold users (S Pen support and IPX8 water resistance), while the Z Fold 4 improved the rear cameras and form factor of the phone.
And now, with the Z Fold 5, you’ll get an upgraded processor in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which should improve the phone’s overall performance, from battery efficiency to camera capture. This year’s model is also notably thinner than the last, and thanks to the no-gap hinge mechanism, ZDNET’s Jason Hiner said in his review that “the Fold 5 feels like the way foldables always should have been.”
The Android 13 software found in the Z Fold 5 gives the phone battery some serious productivity upgrades, especially in terms of multi-app usage thanks to the improved Taskbar and wider support for gesture navigations that ease the transition from multiple active windows.
Like the Z Fold 4, the Fold 5’s cameras are not quite as good as the S23 Ultra’s suite, but the hardware is clearly superior to any foldable predecessor, and the competition. And it certainly helps that the Z Fold 5 is not as heavy and bulky as its predecessors.What is the newest Samsung phone?The newest Samsung phone is the Galaxy S23 battery FE, which features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, and a triple camera system at the rear.