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Samsung Note 7 User Base Still Larger Than LG V20, OnePlus 3T Combined (indianexpress.com)

Posted by msmash on from the sad-reality dept.

Even after two months of an official global recall for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, 10 percent of the units sold are still in use. From a report: Research firm Apteligent reports that the number of Galaxy Note 7 phones in use outnumbers LG V20 and OnePlus 3T combined. According to 9to5Mac, which has shared details from Apteligent's research, while the Moto Z beats the Galaxy Note 7 in terms of usage, the margin is quite low. The report also adds that flagship smartphones such as Google Pixel, Pixel XL and Sony Xperia XZ which were announced around the same time as Note 7's recall have managed to outnumber its user base.

18 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. uh... huh? by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

    Not sure about the LG V20 but the OP3T was only just released like last month... Seems like it might be a little soon to start making comparisons like this.

    In the similar comparison department: I am sure that Ford Focus has outsold any given Tesla model as well...

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    1. Re:uh... huh? by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      Ok, coffee time... I guess I see now that the point of the article is not about volume of sales... anyway, lambast away.

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    2. Re:uh... huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Don't be so hard on yourself. It's about the number of devices in use, but I'm honestly not sure what the point of the comparisons is. Saying that 10% of Note 7s sold are still in use is meaningful. Comparing the number in use to some other phones isn't. Unless you already know how popular those comparison phones are and what their market share is, etc, the comparison tells you nothing. As you pointed out, the length of time since the phones have been released is also a factor. So I'd say there is reason to take issue with that aspect of the article.

    3. Re:uh... huh? by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      How dare you make a mistake on the Internets!

    4. Re:uh... huh? by Jay+Maynard · · Score: 1

      You're not the only one whose first thought was this. Considering I just got my OP3T a couple of days ago after ordering it at the beginning of the month, I doubt there are very many of them in use, period...so comparing their numbers to the Note 7 is just dumb.

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  2. No Subject by dontbemad · · Score: 4, Interesting

    To take a break from the rhetoric for a few moments, it is interesting to think that, even with so many Note 7s still in use, the reports of "exploding batteries" have all but evaporated.

    Maybe it is because the phone officially "doesn't exist" anymore, or maybe it is because people don't find it newsworthy enough to report anymore, Whatever the reason, it certainly does show how a thing's problems only really matter for as long as media hype is able to be drawn from it.

    I personally have to wonder if Samsung made the product recall because of a truly flawed device or if it was because of the overwhelming negative perception about the device.

    1. Re:No Subject by mlts · · Score: 1

      I would say probably both. Part of it was being skittish about the mentioned clearance problem (which couldn't be blamed on a battery maker), part of it is that the press would make it into a major issue, especially on a flagship device. So, Samsung went overboard to pull those devices off the market.

      One side note. It is the solstice today, so a good chunk of the world has cooler temperatures. Come summer, I'd expect some batteries to overheat possibly adding more bad press.

    2. Re:No Subject by chmod+a+x+mojo · · Score: 5, Informative

      Well, by the available numbers from a quick look around, only 0.004% of the phones actually caught fire.

      The numbers I found were 92 reports of fires out of 2.5 million devices produced.

      It may not be the greatest thing in the world to have around, especially since there is a pretty good indication that battery swell over the life of the unit will increase the fire risk, but that is nowhere near the media hype of "GNote7 = every one of these is a bomb in your pocket that WILL burst into flames and try to molest your kids ZOMG!!!".

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    3. Re:No Subject by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As anecdotal evidence (which as one data point, isn't worth much) I just returned my Note 7 last week and had been actively using it until then with no issue. The main decision to do so was monetary incentive benefits outweighing costs.

      I believe the core problem is, as often the case, cultural. We are extremely risk adverse and have been trained to be risk adverse in all aspects of our life. Coupled with that, most people cannot assess real risk factors they deal with daily (e.g., driving) to understand just how dangerous things are comparatively. Any failure to mitigate risk, no matter how minuscule, is socially shunned by others to perpetuate this state (and to inflate egos, "well I would have NEVER done that" .. "can you believe how irresponsible").

      It radiates into many aspects of our lives from what I've seen. From education (test scores, grade inflation,etc.) and investment behavior (often avoiding high risk options) to millennials taking hefty health insurance policies at early ages and constant promotion of fear mongering in the media. Yellow and false journalism is quite rampant still, as we observed in the 2016 election--and frankly on a daily basis. Wait until the US starts to get snow, it'll be the snowocalypse on every local media station and stores will be emptied of bread and milk.

      Combine those factors will a poor education (including understanding of probability and statistics) and it's no wonder most people are constantly awaiting the apocalypse, and many others just itching to say "I told you so."

    4. Re:No Subject by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

      To take a break from the rhetoric for a few moments, it is interesting to think that, even with so many Note 7s still in use, the reports of "exploding batteries" have all but evaporated.

      Indeed. When something happens habitually it is not news any more.

    5. Re:No Subject by Alan+Shutko · · Score: 1

      I personally have to wonder if Samsung made the product recall because of a truly flawed device or if it was because of the overwhelming negative perception about the device.

      They shipped software updates that limited charging to 60% of battery capacity, which might also have reduced the fires. I'm betting yes, it was a truly flawed device.

    6. Re:No Subject by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      it is interesting to think that, even with so many Note 7s still in use, the reports of "exploding batteries" have all but evaporated.

      With some 19million units sent out world wide and a hundredish reports of fires the fact that when the number of phones is reduced by a factor of 100 that there are no more reports of fires is not interesting even in the slightest. Obvious would be a word that would be more suited.

  3. Oneplus 3t? by aglider · · Score: 1

    It's available since just a couple of weeks! Yes, you can order it, but actually grabbing it requires a few more weeks...

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  4. Re:10 percent of the units sold are still in use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    In other news, 10 percent of Note 7 owners are idiots.

    100% of current Note 7 owners are idiots.

  5. I went through 2 Note 7's by dkone · · Score: 4, Informative

    I loved the Note 7, it was such an awesome upgrade from my Note 3. Got the first 7, traded it back on the first recall for a temporary S7 edge which I didn't like. Traded the edge S7 back for a 'safe' Note 7. Got the second recall notice and waited until the V20 came out and traded for that. At this point my attitude toward Samsung is 'fuck Samsung'. Sure I got a $25 credit on my bill, but I also got to spend a total of about 4+ hours dicking around in the ATT store transferring and activating phones. The V20 is a very nice phone. If you are looking for a Note 7 replacement take a look at the V20.

    1. Re:I went through 2 Note 7's by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      Thank you.

      I did not experience the Note 7 and your post is informative.

      The other comments in this thread we closely related to

      ... spend a total of about 4+ hours dicking around ...

      to which I can relate.

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    2. Re:I went through 2 Note 7's by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      . At this point my attitude toward Samsung is 'fuck Samsung'.

      Forever, or just for the Note 7? If anything the Note 7 experience is more likely to keep me as a future customer. Proper and prompt recall, discounts provided, no "you're BBQing it wrong" garbage, and a company burnt is more likely to learn its lesson than one who hasn't been.

      As long as the S8 has a headphone jack that is. If it truly doesn't then 'fuck Samsung'.

  6. I'd have kept it if not for constant notifications by DRAGONWEEZEL · · Score: 1

    Downgrading to an S7 Edge ruined my world. (o.k. I'm being a little over-dramatic here but it did make me sad)
    The note 7 screen was beautiful, and bright. Made iPhone users Jealous. It didn't scratch like my S7 (it's only 3 weeks old and has several scratches in the screen! It's in a case!)

    The first one I had, I can confirm, they had a hot running phone, that battery was trash. The 2nd one was ice cold, ALL THE TIME, even fast charging, even fast charging streaming a movie over wifi, playing audio over bluetooth. My s7 Edge runs noticeably hotter. I'm not doing anything different. The battery lasted for what felt like an eternity on the note. I do hope they bring it back soon. I use my SD card extensively or I would have moved on to a Pixel, but the S7 was the next best phone for me. Maybe next time eh Samsung?

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