The Galaxy Note 7’s troubles were initially blamed on a battery cell issue which was apparently widespread in the ones supplied by Samsung’s own battery making unit, Samsung SDI. When the company announced that it would give all customers a replacement unit, it clarified that the handsets had batteries from another supplier, even though it didn’t really come out and say that it was Samsung SDI’s fault. Since replacement Note 7s started exploding too, all sorts of questions are being asked about quality control at Samsung. Since it’s crucial for the company to not botch the Galaxy S8, a new report suggests it might even source batteries from rival LG for the next flagship.
The Korea Herald reported today that Samsung is now considering a diverse group of suppliers to source Galaxy S8 batteries from, the list is said to include LG Chem as well. LG Chem is the battery making unit of fellow Korean conglomerate, LG. It is in direct competition with Samsung SDI.
It’s not like Samsung hasn’t done business with LG while also competing with it. Many of its smartphones using camera modules from Innotek which is a company that happens to be a part of the LG Group.
The report claims that a deal hasn’t been finalized between Samsung and LG Chem yet but it’s quite possible that the former might decide to go with the latter for batteries meant for its next-generation flagship.
Filed in . Read more about Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S8, LG and Samsung.