Samsung recently launched their new Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition, a handset that is a refurbished version of the recalled Galaxy Note 7. This release marks an interesting move by Samsung to reintroduce a device that had previously faced significant issues, particularly with its battery.
The Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition is currently only available in Korea, but it is expected to launch in more countries soon. The team over at iFixit managed to get their hands on one, providing a detailed teardown and analysis of the device.
Key Differences and Improvements
In the video below, we get to find out more details about the new Galaxy Note Fan Edition and see what differences there are between the original Note 7 and this refurbished version. The main change was a smaller battery, which addresses the overheating issues that plagued the original Note 7. The battery capacity has been reduced from 3,500mAh to 3,200mAh, which is a significant step towards ensuring user safety.
Besides the battery, the Galaxy Note Fan Edition retains most of the features that made the Note 7 popular, such as the S Pen, the 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, and the IP68 water and dust resistance. The software has also been updated to include features from the Galaxy S8, such as Bixby Home and Bixby Reminder, although it lacks the full Bixby Voice functionality.
Repairability and User Experience
iFixit scores devices that they repair on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is very difficult to repair and 10 is very easy to repair. The new Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition scored 4 out of 10, indicating that the handset is difficult to repair. This is the exact same score that the original Galaxy Note 7 received on the iFixit test.
The teardown revealed that while the battery is now safer, it is still glued in place, making it challenging to replace. Other components, such as the display and the glass back, are also difficult to remove without specialized tools, which contributes to the lower repairability score.
Despite these challenges, the Galaxy Note Fan Edition offers a compelling package for fans of the Note series. It combines the best features of the Note 7 with improved safety measures, making it a viable option for those who were disappointed by the recall of the original device.
The Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition represents a second chance for a device that had a troubled past. By addressing the critical battery issue and updating the software, Samsung has created a handset that retains the strengths of the Note 7 while mitigating its weaknesses. As it becomes available in more markets, it will be interesting to see how consumers respond to this refurbished device.
Source iFixit
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