Why The Galaxy Note 7 Failed

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was initially hailed as the greatest smartphone, but quickly became infamous for its explosive failures. The video explores how Samsung's push for an ultra-thin design led to catastrophic battery issues, resulting in a global recall and the eventual discontinuation of the Note series. It delves into the company's response, the technical reasons behind the explosions, and the lasting impact on Samsung's reputation.

Takeaways

• 📱 The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was initially hailed as the greatest smartphone ever made but later became known for its explosive failures.
• 🚀 The launch of Apple's first mass-market touchscreen smartphone in 2007 spurred Samsung to create their own premium product, the Galaxy Note 1, in 2011.
• 📈 Samsung aimed to differentiate themselves from being seen as Apple copycats by introducing the Galaxy Note Edge with a curved screen in 2014.
• 🔥 The Note 7 was designed to be Samsung's thinnest and most feature-rich phone yet, but these ambitions led to critical design flaws.
• 🔊 The first reported Note 7 fires were attributed to manufacturing errors, with Samsung recalling all American phones and issuing replacements.
• 💥 Even the replacement Note 7 phones were not safe and continued to explode, revealing a deeper issue with the battery design.
• 🛑 Samsung eventually halted production and sales of the Note 7, banning it from flights due to the risk it posed.
• 🔍 Technical analysis revealed that the Note 7's battery design was flawed, with the battery edges being rounded to fit in a tight space, causing short circuits.
• 🔄 Samsung's response to the crisis was criticized for being slow and inadequate, with some replacement phones using batteries manufactured before the recall was announced.
• 📉 The Note 7 incident significantly damaged Samsung's brand reputation, especially for the Note series, which was discontinued in 2020.
• 🔄 After the crisis, Samsung repurposed some of the unsold and returned Note 7s by installing smaller batteries and rebranding them as the Samsung Note Fe to mitigate further explosions.

Q & A

What was the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 initially known for at the time of its release?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was initially known as the greatest smartphone that had ever been made.

How did the Samsung Galaxy Note 7's reputation change over time?

Over time, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7's reputation changed from being the greatest smartphone to being known as the greatest failure in smartphone history due to its tendency to explode.

What was the original strategy of Samsung in the smartphone market before the Galaxy Note series?

Samsung's original strategy was to create cheaper phones using open-source Android software, similar to Apple's products but with cheaper materials.

What innovation did the Samsung Galaxy Note 1 introduce in 2011?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 1 introduced a larger screen and a stylus called the S Pen, which was a significant innovation at the time.

What feature did the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge bring to the smartphone market in 2014?

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge introduced a curved screen, a feature that has since become common among Android phones.

Why did Samsung decide to make the Galaxy Note 7 their thinnest phone ever?

Samsung decided to make the Galaxy Note 7 their thinnest phone ever to compete with the trend of bigger screens and thinner phones in the market, following Apple's footsteps.

What were some of the advanced features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 featured the best display, an S Pen that worked underwater, a USB-C charging port that was ahead of its time, and was their thinnest and more rigid phone ever.

What was the initial response from Samsung when the Note 7 started to have reported fires?

Samsung initially recalled all of the American phones, claiming it was a manufacturing error specific to the U.S. market, and sent out replacement phones with a green light indicator to signify they were safe.

Why did the replacement Note 7 phones also start exploding?

The replacement Note 7 phones started exploding because Samsung used batteries that were manufactured before the initial phones started exploding and before the company had fully researched the problem.

What was the final outcome for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7?

The Note 7 was eventually banned on all American flights, Samsung halted production, and they offered full refunds to customers. Later, they re-released a version with a smaller battery as the Samsung Note FE.

What were the two main reasons identified for the Note 7 explosions?

The two main reasons for the Note 7 explosions were a battery design where the edges were rounded to fit more components, causing short circuits, and a manufacturing defect referred to as 'burrs' that could puncture the battery as it expanded.

Outlines

00:00

📱 The Rise and Fall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7

This paragraph introduces the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, initially hailed as the greatest smartphone at its release but later infamous for its explosive failures. The script outlines the competitive smartphone market following Apple's 2007 release of the first mass-market touchscreen smartphone. It discusses Samsung's strategy to undercut Apple's premium pricing with cheaper Android phones, leading to the creation of the Galaxy Note series. The Note 7 was intended to be Samsung's crowning achievement, boasting advanced features and a sleek design. However, shortly after its launch, numerous reports of the phone catching fire emerged, marking a significant setback for the brand.

05:04

🔥 The Explosive Crisis of Samsung Galaxy Note 7

This paragraph delves into the technical reasons behind the Galaxy Note 7's explosions, suggesting space-saving design choices led to battery issues. The battery's rounded edges and internal structure are pinpointed as potential causes for short circuits. Additionally, the script mentions a manufacturing defect referred to as 'burr' that could puncture the battery, causing explosions. Samsung's response to the crisis is critiqued, questioning the speed of their recall and transparency regarding the issue. The paragraph concludes with Samsung's attempt to recover by releasing a refurbished model with a smaller battery, the Note FE, and reflects on the lasting impact of the incident on the brand and the Note series.

Keywords

💡Samsung Galaxy Note 7

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was a flagship smartphone launched by Samsung in 2016. It was initially hailed as a technological marvel but later became infamous for its battery issues, which led to numerous reports of the device catching fire or exploding. The phone's failure is central to the video's narrative, illustrating a cautionary tale about the risks of pushing the boundaries of technology without adequate safety measures.

💡Explosions

The term 'explosions' in the script refers to the dangerous incidents where Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices caught fire or exploded due to battery defects. These incidents are a key focus of the video, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of the product's design flaws and the subsequent impact on Samsung's reputation.

💡Android

Android is an open-source operating system used by Samsung and other manufacturers for their smartphones. In the video, it is mentioned as the software that allowed Samsung to create cheaper alternatives to Apple's iOS devices. Android's role is significant as it enabled Samsung to compete in the smartphone market with a different business model.

💡S Pen

The S Pen is a stylus that comes with the Samsung Galaxy Note series, allowing for precise input and unique features like note-taking and drawing on the device's screen. In the script, the S Pen is highlighted as an innovative feature that differentiated the Note series from other smartphones and contributed to its appeal.

💡Innovation

Innovation in the context of the video refers to the introduction of new features or designs that set a product apart from its competitors. The script mentions the S Pen and the curved screen as examples of Samsung's innovation in the smartphone market, which helped the company to establish a unique identity.

💡Recall

A recall in this script refers to the process by which Samsung attempted to rectify the safety issues with the Galaxy Note 7 by asking consumers to return the devices due to the risk of explosions. The recall is a critical part of the story, demonstrating the company's response to the crisis and the challenges it faced in managing the situation.

💡Manufacturing Error

The term 'manufacturing error' is used in the script to describe the initial belief by Samsung about the cause of the Galaxy Note 7's battery issues. It suggests a mistake in the production process that led to the dangerous conditions. The script later reveals that the problem was more complex and involved design flaws.

💡Battery

The battery is a crucial component of the smartphone that powers the device. In the video, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is the central issue, as its design and manufacturing defects led to the explosions. The script details how the battery's design contributed to the safety issues.

💡Miniaturization

Miniaturization refers to the process of making electronic components smaller to fit more technology into a compact space. The script mentions this trend in smartphone design, where companies like Samsung were trying to make their devices thinner, which led to the Note 7's battery being packed too tightly and causing safety issues.

💡USB-C

USB-C is a type of universal serial bus connector that was introduced in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 as a feature for faster charging. The script notes this as an example of the phone's advanced technology, but it also serves to illustrate the high expectations for the device's capabilities, which were ultimately overshadowed by the battery issues.

💡Brand Recovery

Brand recovery in the script refers to Samsung's efforts to regain consumer trust and rebuild its reputation after the Galaxy Note 7 incident. The video discusses how the company's actions during the crisis affected its brand image and the challenges it faced in moving forward from the disaster.

Highlights

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was initially acclaimed as the greatest smartphone ever made.

It later became infamous for its explosive issues, marking a significant failure in smartphone history.

The story begins with the release of Apple's first mass-market touchscreen smartphone in 2007, which revolutionized the tech scene.

Samsung entered the market with cheaper alternatives using Android OS, challenging Apple's premium pricing.

In 2011, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 1, introducing a unique design with a larger screen and the Spen stylus.

The Galaxy Note Edge in 2014 featured a curved screen, further distinguishing Samsung from competitors.

The Note series was known for its innovative features and premium status in the smartphone market.

In 2016, Samsung aimed to create the best Note phone ever with the Note 7, boasting advanced features and a thin design.

The Note 7 was initially praised as the greatest phone ever, but soon reports of fires and explosions emerged.

Samsung's rushed response to the crisis included a recall, claiming the issue was limited to American models.

The replacement Note 7 devices also exploded, revealing a deeper, unresolved issue with the design.

Investigations revealed that Samsung's battery design was flawed, causing short circuits and fires.

Samsung's handling of the crisis was criticized for lack of transparency and swift action.

The Note 7 was eventually banned from flights and production was halted, marking a significant setback for Samsung.

Samsung offered full refunds and later re-released a modified version of the phone, the Note FE, with a smaller battery.

The Note line's reputation suffered, and Samsung discontinued it in 2020, reflecting on their crisis management.

The Note 7 incident serves as a cautionary tale for the tech industry about the importance of safety and thorough design.

Transcripts

this is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 at the

time of its release it was known as the

greatest smartphone that had ever been

made nowadays it's known better as the

greatest failure in all of smartphones

there's no other way to put this it

explodes but what happened how did a

smartphone from a massive trusted brand

go so wrong it's a great story but we

have to start at the beginning strap in

today we learn about

[Music]

like all stories about the modern

smartphone this one starts in 2007 Apple

releases the first mass Market

touchscreen smartphone it would be an

understatement to say that they

revolutionized the tech scene and as I

stated in my Windows Phone video

competition was rushing to catch up

immediately it became obvious that

Apple's position was that they were

making a premium product for a more

premium price in 2007 paying $500 for a

phone was absurd it opened the market

for cheaper alternatives so pretty soon

Samsung swooped in and made a cheaper

phone they used an open source software

called Android and found ways to make

similar phones but with cheaper

materials now there's nothing wrong with

this cheap competition drives down the

overall prices of the market and makes

devices better but it was hard for

Samsung to create a successful billion-

Dollar business out of copying somebody

else's successful device many people

wanted Samsung to make a unique flagship

phone for consumers so they did in 2011

they released the Galaxy Note 1 a

premium model to go alongside their bass

S2 phone it had a bigger screen and most

importantly a stylus called the Spen it

was a a great Innovation for the time it

had a lot of cool applications and it

fit inside the phone all right cool

they're making their own design language

and kind of branching off from being

known as the Apple copycats and in 2014

they released the Galaxy Note Edge that

came with a curved screen something now

common among Android phones they were

becoming unique and cool through their

premium note line and it was showing

every year for a long time the Note

phone was the best phone on the market

in terms of features Samsung had finally

made themselves a profitable and

Independent Business

[Music]

around this time the trend with phones

were bigger screens thinner phones

companies were taking their Tech

miniaturizing it and trying to cram it

into a really thin chassis cuz that's

what sold the thinnest phone that apple

had ever made was the iPhone 6 yeah let

that sink in the thinnest iPhone was

almost 10 years ago now if you're alive

at the time you probably remember why

they stopped making them this thin they

snapped in half in people's pockets so

Apple quits the thin phone market in

2014 now it's time for Samsung to step

in and offer their competitor so here's

their decision in 2016 they're going to

make the best Note phone yet their

greatest phone ever leaps in bounds

above the Note phone that came before

they decided to skip the note number six

model to signify how big of a change it

was so it would be the Note 7 and now

the S Series and the note series were on

the same number it was going to be their

biggest phone yet best display the S Pen

was going to work underwater they added

USBC a charging port that was ahead of

its time and several times faster than

the old one all of this and it was going

to be their thinnest phone ever and even

more rigid than the iPhone 6 they really

had a competitor here the greatest phone

to ever exist full stop and it released

to worldwide Acclaim reviewers called it

just that the greatest phone ever until

they

[Music]

didn't now if you remember Samsung from

earlier in the video you know they

aren't typically as thorough as Apple

when it comes to design in order to have

these absurd specs they really crammed

all of these components in there within

their first couple of weeks an abnormal

amount of phone fires were being

reported usually when a phone releases

there's like a couple of reports of

phone fires one or two at the max and

it's all user error a battery is very

flammable but it's still safe the

electric parts in a battery are

surrounded by a flammable fluid so as

long as the electric parts don't touch

and you don't puncture the battery

you're fine within the first month2 Note

7 fires had been reported somewhere way

worse than that full-on explosions with

toxic fumes coming out of the phone

often in somebody's pocket or next to

them while they were sleeping Samsung

makes a statement almost immediately by

September 2nd Samsung recalls all of the

American phones they claim it's a

manufacturing error and only the

American phones have this problem they

send everybody a new phone this one is

fixed and they get a little green light

on the top of the screen to signify it's

one of the working ones great everything

is fixed until those ones start

exploding too not to mention some of the

ones in China are going up in Flames

those are the ones that were supposed to

be safe reviewers like Jerry rig

everything take apart the new Note 7 and

they can see the battery in the

replacement was manufactured before the

phones started exploding Samsung was

using replacement batteries that were

manufactured before they even and

announced the recall which also means

this battery was manufactured before

Samsung even researched the problem the

plot thickens and then comes the real

kicker on October 8th a phone goes off

while in an airplane and it's one of the

replacement models this isn't a phone

anymore it's a weapon the Note 7 is

banned on any American flight just 2

Days Later Samsung halts production on

the device but they continue selling it

for another day so much has gone wrong

in just a short amount of time so let's

stand back a second and figure out what

happened

[Music]

all right so there's two reasons why the

phone exploded if you want a more

technical breakdown of how the phone

exploded check out the video down below

by Jerry rig everything he takes it

apart and explains it in detail I'll

just give you the gist Samsung really

had to pack things real tight in this

phone to get everything to fit one of

the ways they conserved space is they

made the edge of the battery kind of

like rounded to like fit more stuff in

that corner so the inside of the battery

looked like this and as you know that is

not good those are the two parts that

you do not want to touch in simple terms

they make a spark and it ignites the

battery it's like having two wires

plugged into your car battery touching

them together except you're surrounded

by toxic flammable liquid other sources

say there was this spot on the phone

that had like spikes coming out of it

Samsung called it a burr Samsung

batteries across all of their phones are

known to expand so when they expanded

the burs kind of just punctured the

battery once the battery started to

expand it just punctures itself boom all

right enough green screen back to me

[Music]

so Samsung told everybody they would get

a full refund bring your phone back and

we'll pay for it great they had a bunch

of these phones unsold just lay around

in factories and from returns so what do

they do they put a smaller battery in it

everything else is the same sell it as

the Samsung Note Fe much smaller battery

no explosions all good Samsung as a

brand hasn't fully recovered especially

the note line they made four more note

phones discontinuing it in 2020 none of

them exploded but that's not really the

point we have to focus on how they

conducted themselves while the phones

were exploding like why didn't they

recall the phones faster why did they

say the new phones wouldn't explode when

they were manufactured before they even

knew there was a problem I mean nobody

died don't get me wrong but some people

were seriously hurt imagine trying to

catch a flight home and your seed

explodes imagine waking up in the middle

of the night not being able to breathe

cuz there's lithium gas everywhere I'm

not trying to cancel Samsung or anything

I'm just saying 8 years ago they

conducted themselves portly their funds

are great now and I'm sure they do much

better if something like this happened

again this was the first and only time

something like this has ever happened

and hopefully it doesn't happen again

thanks for watching party on dudes

[Music]