Mashable retracts its recommendation of the Samsung Galaxy Note7

Due to ongoing concerns about safety, Mashable is retracting its recommendation of the Samsung Galaxy Note7 and revoking its Mashable Choice award.

We do not take this action lightly, but what's happened to the Samsung Galaxy Note7 in the last six weeks is unprecedented in mobile. After Samsung released the high-end phone to generally great reviews, including Mashable's, multiple reports began to surface that the phones were spontaneously catching fire due to exploding batteries.

It quickly became clear there was some kind of defect in how the phone's battery was made, which caused a significant (although statistically small) number of Note7 devices to malfunction. Lithium-ion batteries -- the type of battery in the vast majority of today's portable consumer electronics -- can become dangerously volatile if they're damaged or defective.

Samsung appeared to identify the flaw in its manufacturing process and correct it. It then began shipping "safe" Galaxy Note7 phones to customers.

That's when events went from unfortunate to unthinkable. It now appears multiple replacement Galaxy Note7's have caught fire. The developments have led to wireless carriers in the U.S. and other countries to halt sales of the device. Even Samsung is reportedly halting production of the Note7, which the company did not deny in a statement.

Those same developments have led Mashable to do something it's never done before: In light of the continued safety concerns that Samsung has yet to fully explain, Mashable can no longer recommend the Samsung Galaxy Note7, and we are rescinding the product's Mashable Choice status. Further, we echo the words of our senior editor, Stan Schroeder: Don't buy this phone.

I spoke with Mashable Senior Tech Correspondent Raymond Wong, who reviewed the Galaxy Note7, about our decision, which he initiated and the editorial leadership fully agreed with.

What made you want to retract your recommendation now?

It's just too dangerous now. There are too many cases where carriers are not selling the phones. It's just not worth risking your life when we're not sure what's wrong. It looks like Samsung doesn't even know what's wrong with them.

You defended your recommendation after the initial reports of explosions. Why retract it now and not then?

Samsung was moving very swiftly to recall the devices. Any device with an lithium-ion battery could potentially explode. At the time we all believed it was a small, rare manufacturing error, and that's actually what Samsung told the public. At this point it's clear they haven't done a thorough enough investigation, and they're not sure if these devices are safe or not. It's not a blip anymore.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

What would you like Samsung to do at this point?

They really have to explain what's wrong with the phones, period. Provide us with a conclusive investigation, rather than just telling us, "We fixed the phone." They need to explain what precautions they're taking to ensure these devices are safe. Consumers need to know.

Do you think this particular phone model is dead?

I think it is. I think that they could have recovered from this with the replacements, but now you can't trust the replacements. It's basically a dead product. They should kill it and focus on the future.

How do you think this whole mess will affect your Samsung phone reviews going forward?

Well, our phones didn't explode. When we review any phone, we don't know if they'll explode down the road. It could literally happen to any phone. A phone could explode in six months, a year. I don't think it'll affect how I review them, but we should all be more cautious with our phones in general. I mean, barring a defect, the Note7 is still a great phone.

Anything else you want to add?

I'm just so disappointed.