Note 7

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Note 7:

Samsung’s folding smartphones break on Day 1

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Galaxy Fold front
The Galaxy Fold has some major problems.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s new Galaxy Fold smartphone has a serious problem with its folding display.

Multiple early reviewers are reporting that the display has broken after just one or two days of use. It appears that the hinge on some units is defective, causing the screen to be unusable.

Check out these tweets of the carnage:

US bans fliers from bringing batteries on passenger planes as cargo

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Hawaiian Airlines
You'll have to bring batteries in your carry-on now.
Photo: Hawaiian Airlines

The US Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration is making it a little bit harder for fliers to haul lithium-ion batteries to new destinations.

Under new rules revealed today, passengers are banned from storing lithium-ion cells or batteries on cargo during commercial flights. There’s also a new ban that prevents companies from shipping batteries with more than 30 percent charge on cargo-only flights.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 is ready to take on the next iPhone

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Galaxy Note 8
Apple should be worried about Galaxy Note 8.
Photo: Samsung

The Galaxy Note 8 has landed, and it’s ready and waiting to take on the next iPhone.

It is Samsung’s best smartphone to date, building upon the strong foundations laid by the Galaxy S8 series, and setting an even higher bar for new competitors.

It boasts everything you want in a modern smartphone and more, including a stunning Infinity Display, iris scanning, dual cameras like iPhone 7 Plus, and the beloved S Pen stylus.

Samsung confirms another iPhone 8 rival is coming this year

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Galaxy Note 7
The new Galaxy Note will go on sale early again this year.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Samsung already made life difficult for Apple’s next-generation iPhone with its stellar Galaxy S8 series, but it won’t stop there.

The South Korean company confirms it plans to release another flagship smartphone in the second half of 2017 that will give iPhone 8 an even tougher challenge.

South Korean government wants to hear about exploding phones

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The Note 7 was one of the last year's hottest phones. And not in the good way.
Photo: Hui Renjie

In the aftermath of Samsung’s exploding Galaxy Note 7 debacle, the South Korean government is set to make it mandatory for manufacturers to report instances in which their handsets burst into flames.

“When the new rules come into effect, phone makers will also have to immediately launch an investigation — right after the submission of the report — to prove if the fires or explosions were caused by flawed parts or external force,” an official from The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is quoted as saying.

On eBay, a Galaxy Note 7 box is worth more than the phone

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galaxy note 7
There's some consolation for Note 7 owners.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Now that Samsung has asked for all Galaxy Note 7 units to be returned and ceased production, the device is worthless. Even if you decide to keep yours (which you shouldn’t), it’s going to have no resale value. But you might be surprised to learn that its box has.

Some Note 7 owners have already taken to selling their packaging on eBay, and some listings are calling for as much as $60.

Samsung still can’t solve its exploding Galaxy Note 7 problem

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Galaxy Note 7 edge
Samsung has given up on the Note 7, but it still has to solve its fiery problem.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

After recalling 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 handsets and finally ceasing production of its flagship phablet earlier this week, Samsung still cannot get to the bottom of its exploding battery issue, according to a new report.

The South Korean company initially believed that defective batteries from a certain supplier were the problem, but after replacement units with new cells started catching fire, Samsung has been unable to pinpoint the cause of the issue.

It’s worrying news for Samsung smartphone fans.

LOL: Galaxy Note 7 return kit includes fire-proof box and gloves

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Note-7-return-kit
Don't return your Note 7 without one of these.
Photo: XDA Developers

After watching $17 billion fall off its market value today, it’s still too early for Samsung to laugh about the whole Galaxy Note 7 debacle. But that doesn’t mean we can’t.

This video of a Note 7 return kit, which includes a fire-proof box and gloves, will certainly put a smile on your face.

Galaxy Note 7 review: The best smartphone money can’t buy

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Galaxy Note 7
Don't let a few explosions put you off.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Forget what you’ve read about the Galaxy Note 7 exploding (and wiping out family cars, hotel rooms and homes). Samsung’s latest phablet delivers an improved design, faster internals, an iris scanner, the same great camera we got with the Galaxy S7 and an even better display.

When this baby goes on sale again, without that dreaded battery fault, it will be the best smartphone available — and the iPhone 7 (probably) won’t change a thing.