How to tell if your Galaxy Note 7 is safe to use

Samsung’s going to make it easy to check that new purchases — and replacement units — are unaffected by battery issues.

Samsung will soon be replacing potentially dangerous Galaxy Note 7s purchased during the first few weeks of the phone’s availability with safe units. As it does so, the manufacturer is also giving buyers a couple of ways to identify a safe Note 7.

Note: For the moment we only have confirmed information for Australia, however it’s likely global Note 7 shipments will follow a similar pattern. We’ll update this post with more information as we get it.

Samsung Australia has updated its Galaxy Note 7 notice page with details of how to tell a safe Note 7 from an unsafe one. Replacement Note 7s issued after the recall will have a circular blue-on-white “S” sticker on the box, and a small black square on the sticker with the phone’s unique IMEI number.

Samsung Australia says that once replacement units start rolling out it’ll also let customers look up their IMEI number in a database — either online or over the phone — to check whether their device is from stock affected by the battery issue. The database will go live on September 13.

Buying the Galaxy Note 7 new

If you buy a brand new Note 7 from a reputable retailer after it goes on sale again, you’ll almost certainly have a safe unit unaffected by the original battery problem. To double-check, look for the black square and “S” mark on your box.

What about buying second-hand?

If you’re buying a used Note 7 then the first point to check, again, is the sticker on the box. To double-check, you’ll be able to put your IMEI number into Samsung’s online database when it launches. (To find your IMEI, open the dialer and input *#06#)

We’ll continue to update this page with more information as it becomes available.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

• Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
• The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
• Here are all four Note 7 colors
• Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
• Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!

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