Samsung, one of the world's largest smartphone makers, isn't one to back down to any of its competitors. Yet, with the disastrous consequences of the battery explosions on the Galaxy Note 7, the Korean tech giant might just ask one of its rivals to supply batteries for its next-generation smartphones.
A report from Reuters disclosed that Samsung is planning to tap the services of LG, one of its fiercest domestic rivals, for smartphone battery supplies. Currently, the company sources its batteries from two companies: Samsung SDI and Amperex Technology.
The report further specified that a potential deal is 90% close to becoming reality, with an industry official noting that both Samsung and LG are seemingly leaning towards sealing an agreement. Should both parties put pen on paper on the agreement, the new supplies may come as early as the second half next year. Yet, both parties have yet to comment on the report, according to Fortune.
It can be recalled that Samsung issued major recalls of the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7, as several instances involving exploding batteries came flooding onto the Korean tech giant's door. The smartphone - introduced as the company's 2016 flagship, turned out to be a massive fire risk, even prompting airliners to ban the smartphone's use or carriage in-flight.
In a bid to solve the problem, Samsung changed its supplier from Samsung SDI to Amperex Technology. Yet, the supplier fix didn't seem to solve the problem, prompting a halt in production of Galaxy Note 7 units when cases of explosions involving the new batteries continued to add to the company's woes.
Moreover, Samsung has reportedly finished its problem on the battery problems involving the Galaxy Note 7. Though the company has yet to release the findings to the public, it still has until the end of the year to fulfill their promise indicated in their apology.
Word on the Galaxy S8, Samsung's upcoming flagship, has been minimal in light of the company's push to guard against leaks ahead of the smartphone's April 2017 release. Watch the BBC's interview with Rita Clifton on the effects of the Galaxy Note 7's battery issue on Samsung's brand image below: