Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 is officially dead. The company confirmed this that it would be halting production after a wave of fires and explosions were reported, seemingly caused by a major fault with the phone.
Unfortunately Samsung sold rather a lot of them, which means that are thousands of Note 7 owners who are now wondering what to do next.
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Kim Hong-Ji / Reuters
Well don’t panic, here’s what you should do next if you own a Galaxy Note 7:
1. Back up your data then turn it off
This seemingly goes without saying, but it’s always good to be sure. The Note 7 is a defective piece of technology that has the potential to catch fire. Backing up your data then turning it off is a must.
If you’re stuck on how to back up, there’s a great explainer by the Android experts Android Central which you can read here.
2. Call this number and arrange a recall
Samsung should be reaching out to you individually, if they haven’t though there’s a special phone number you can call Monday-Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 10am-6pm.
Samsung then should be able to send you the fairly extreme packaging needed to send the Note 7 back to them.
3. Exchange your Note 7 or get a full refund
Samsung UK are offering Note 7 users two options when it comes to reimbursement. They will either offer you a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge with a refund of the price difference or you can obtain a full refund for the phone.
Considering you can currently only buy the S7 or S7 edge from Samsung with 32GB of storage you might want to consider either using the extra money on a microSD card OR find an alternative using our guide to the best smartphones available right now:
Apple iPhone 7
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Eduardo Munoz / Reuters
This is Apple’s best iPhone ever, and if we’re honest it’s one of their most innovative devices yet. It has an incredible camera, is water-resistant and boasts a stunning bright new display. Of course it can’t escape the rumours surrounding next year’s device but if you’re looking to buy a smartphone right now, and Apple are on your radar, this is the phone for you.
Google Pixel
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The Huffington Post UK
This is Google’s iPhone. It’s that simple. As such there are achievements and compromises. If you’re after an incredibly well-built, powerful Android flagship, Google have given you a truly five-star smartphone. If you’re a photographer, the Pixel’s camera and cloud storage option make this a no brainer. It's not cheap though, with the XL costing over £800.
OnePlus 3T
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The Huffington Post UK
The OnePlus 3T is simply a continuation of the ethos that makes OnePlus phones so good. It’s exceptionally well-built, powerful and offers you everything you could want in an affordable and meaningful package. No smartphone will give you more value for money.
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Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
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Bloomberg via Getty Images
With a new curved back and larger 5.5-inch display the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is more about evolution than revolution. The S7 edge now sports a water-resistant body, embedded camera and a MicroSD card slot. The S7 edge is also Samsung's most powerful smartphone yet, so powerful in fact that Samsung have actually had to equip a tiny water-cooling system inside the phone. The good news though is that means you'll never have to worry about getting a warm hand.
Apple iPhone SE
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The Huffington Post UK
Incredibly, Apple's familiar-looking iPhone SE manages to boast the same performance as its top-of-the-range iPhone 6s making it the most powerful 4-inch smartphone available. If you're keen to return to the days of one-handed texting then Apple's bite-sized iPhone is the smartphone for you.
LG G5
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
The LG G5 sets itself apart from rivals like the S7, Xperia XA and the iPhone 6s by being something utterly unique. The G5 is the first commercial 'modular' phone, allowing you to swap out the bottom for new accessories. So far there's an audio one made in partnership with Bang & Olufsen and a camera-focused attachment which gives you extra camera controls.
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Huawei P9
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JACK TAYLOR via Getty Images
The Huawei P9 is a smartphone designed for capturing life. Thanks to a partnership with photography legends Leica this dual-lens camera can take pictures that'll put your dedicated camera to shame. Of course it helps that the P9 is also a pretty great Android smartphone as well.
Google Nexus 5X
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The Nexus 5X strikes the ultimate balance between power and affordability. Taking over the responsibility from the frankly excellent Nexus 5, Google's new smartphone boast an ultra-light body but still crams in a fingerprint sensor, the latest version of Android marshmallow and a Full-HD display.