14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung officially stated its intention to refurbish some recalled Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, swap their batteries for new units and sell them in certain markets, after discussing with local regulatory agencies and analyzing market viability.
The refurbished Galaxy Note 7 is said to arrive in India and Vietnam, although Samsung’s local division from the former country recently refuted the rumor, before the company officially announced the program for recycling and refurbishing Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.
Now, a leaked image originating from Vietnam shows the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 and confirms the SM-N935 code number. This means that the model could be sold in the country, especially since Samsung currently assembles its smartphones there, thus giving weight to the image’s authenticity.
Refurbished Galaxy Note 7 runs Android 7.0 Nougat
An interesting piece of information that the image reveals regards the battery unit inside the refurbished model. Previous reports stated that the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 smartphone would feature a smaller battery than the initial model, and the leaked image seems to confirm that.
Refurbished Galaxy Note 7 units appear to feature new 3,200mAh battery units, compared to the 3,500mAh juicer in original models. Obviously, refurbished units will be subjected to Samsung’s thorough quality assurance process, to make sure they’re safe for consumer use and they don’t end up having the same fate as initial models.
Semiconductors and camera modules in units that won’t qualify for refurbishment will be recycled, while Samsung has put in place a whole procedure for making sure that unwanted components are disposed of properly.
The leaked image also shows that Android 7.0 Nougat will be running on the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 model, while the other specs are expected to be the same as on the initial phone. The initial Note 7 smartphone was sold for about $850, while the refurbished model will surely have a significantly lower price tag.
One thing is for sure, Samsung won’t be selling the refurbished model in the US, while full availability details will most likely be announced days before the phone goes on sale.
