14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung is now giving the finishing touches to the Galaxy Note 8, and with the device just around the corner, the company is making some changes that should help make the phablet one of the safest ever.
One of these changes is giving up on ATL, the company that built part of the batteries used by Samsung on the Galaxy Note 7 and which have been at fault for devices bursting into flames and eventually triggering a worldwide recall of the device.
A report from ET News indicates that Samsung will work exclusively with its own Samsung SDI and Japan’s Murata Manufacturing for battery units on the Galaxy Note 8 phablet, with the upcoming Galaxy S9 due in the spring of 2018 also likely to stick with these two manufacturers. Samsung has already given up on its deal with ATL for the Galaxy S8 series launched earlier this year.
ATL to supply batteries for iPhones
According to the source, Samsung SDI will be in charge of building some 80 percent of the batteries to be used on the Note 8, while Murata will build the other 20 percent.
Samsung has imposed tougher conditions for battery manufacturers following the Note 7 fiasco, and it’s believed that ATL failed to comply with these requirements. But even though Samsung gives up on ATL for its flagships phones, the two companies are likely to continue working together on other projects, including more affordable phones.
Furthermore, while having Samsung giving up on batteries for flagship devices is clearly a loss for ATL, the company is unlikely to be substantially impacted, as it’s also working with Apple for battery units for the iPhone. Apple is also preparing a new iPhone model, and analysts predict record sales for the OLED model.
The Galaxy Note 8 will launch with a 3,300 mAh battery that has undergone intensive testing, as Samsung heightened quality control and surveillance on every supplier.