Back in the summer of 2016, Samsung brought out the Galaxy Note 7. With it’s stylus and larger screen, the phone was designed to take the business market by storm. That was until a month later when the phones started to catch fire, and some even exploded. The company value fell by $26 billion on the stock market. In the competitive technology market, when Samsung were battling against the iPhone, this was a tragedy.
The role of lithium-ion
The affected smartphones were replaced, but this still didn’t put an end to the problems. There continued to be issues with Note 7s catching on fire. Samsung placed the blame on “battery cell issues,” although the whole matter seemed to be a little hazy. One of the big selling points of the Note 7, was the fact that it had a long battery life, utilizing the Lithium-Ion Battery. In terms of battery technology, they are revolutionary; however, because Lithium is the most lightweight metal in the world, it makes it extremely volatile. Production of the Note 7 ceased, but this isn’t the only electronic device that relies on the Lithium-Ion Battery.
Other Lithium-ion battery products
Ultra-thin laptops, tablets, iPads, iPhones, wearables, e-cigarettes and many medical devices all use Lithium-Ion batteries. All batteries have risks but you do have consumer rights if you have been affected. The manufacturing difficulties associated with batteries have led to fires, and are one of the reasons that items containing Lithium-Ion batteries are not allowed to be put into airplane cargo luggage.
How do I ensure my safety?
Let’s not forget that problems with Lithium-Ion issues are very rare – there are 26 million batteries produced annually, and the majority of these don’t have any faults. But it is important to take some safety precautions. Never use a charger if you notice exposed wires, or believe that it might be faulty. You should not leave your device plugged in to a charger for a long period of time after it is fully charged. Lithium-Ion batteries should also never be charged in temperatures of below 0 C. If you think that there is a problem with your device, make sure that you consult the manufacturer.
Lithium-Ion batteries are here to stay, and have meant that our electronic devices can be produced thinner and lighter. Let’s hope that there no further issues resulting in exploding smartphones.
