| EDIT: The Korea Herald indicates that the issues appear to be originating from faulty ITM battery packs [2]. OLD: Going along with the assumption there is some fault with the devices... Essentially they should just sit there in shipping unless there is an external/internal battery short, extreme temperature or puncture. I assume the batteries were not punctured sitting in their target package after all the testing they must do and the fact these batteries can handle the temperatures of shipping (this is done all of the time). "Sister company Samsung SDI Co Ltd (006400.KS) said that while it was a supplier of Galaxy Note 7 batteries, it had received no information to suggest the batteries were faulty." [1] These batteries are made and tested all of the time, I would hope the technology is quite well understood my now which for me would rule out the likelihood of internal battery failure. Samsung also tend make quite high quality equipment in general in my personal opinion. For me that leaves two likely possibilities, the phones were somehow switched on during travel (potentially through vibration or bad software) or bad circuit design meaning some current draw in given scenarios allowing the batteries to warm up. My money would be on the devices turning on during shipping due to a crate knock or large shock. If a pallet fell of a fork lift or some semi-large force to the devices, I wouldn't be surprised if the low-profile power button was pressed inwards, switching the devices on. If I remember rightly, Samsung devices ship in cardboard, acting both as insulation and something to get the fire going. A nice large hot display and hot battery well insulated would be enough to do a bit of thermal escalation. I would imagine it would only take one to turn on to do the trick. If I were Samsung I would switch one on, stick it back in it's packaging and wrap it in bubble wrap to simulate the condition of being in the middle of a pallet. [1] http://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsung-elec-smartphones-i... [2] http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160901000855 |