How to make sure you have the new Galaxy Note 7

How to make sure you have the new Galaxy Note 7

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been plagued by reports of exploding handsets, and the risk has been deemed so severe that Samsung has recalled the first batches of the handsets that shipped and replaced them with new Galaxy Note 7 devices.

If you haven't sent back your Note 7 yet, make sure you read our guide How to replace your Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

With new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets being sent out, Samsung has released information on how you can identify the new Galaxy Note 7, to ensure you're not using an earlier faulty model.

How to identify the new Galaxy Note 7 with the battery icon

Samsung has made it easy to tell if you have a new Galaxy Note 7 by adding a green battery icon that will only be visible on the new versions of the Note 7.

How to make sure you have the new Galaxy Note 7

Image credit: Samsung

This green battery icon will appear in the status bar at the top of the Note 7's screen, as well as on the always-on display screen when the Note 7 is locked, and on the power off screen, which appears when you press and hold the power button.

How to identify the new Galaxy Note 7 from the packaging

If you've just bought a Galaxy Note 7, then by the time you take it out of the box, charge it up and check for the battery icon, it may be too late for you to easily get your money back if you find you've been sold the old version.

Thankfully there's an easy way to make sure the Note 7 you're about to buy is the new version – just check the label of the packaging box and you'll see a square symbol in the top right-hand corner, as shown in the picture from Samsung below.

How to make sure you have the new Galaxy Note 7

Image credit: Samsung

Using these methods you can be confident that you have the new Galaxy Note 7, and you'll be able to operate it safely.

Matt Hanson
Managing Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.

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