Samsung Electronics plans to resell reconditioned Galaxy Note 7s, reports report.
The world’s largest smartphone maker Samsung will begin reselling Galaxy Note 7 devices next week after a humiliating withdrawal on the batteries they exploited last year, news reports said on Tuesday.
Samsung Electronics declined to comment on the reports.
The recovery debacle cost the Korean giant billions of dollars in profit losses and hammered its global credibility.
About three million Galaxy Note 7 devices were returned to the firm, but campaign groups, including Greenpeace, expressed concern that disposing of them could harm the environment.
Citing industry sources, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency and other news said that Samsung would begin selling new devices with new batteries and updated software under the name Galaxy Note Fandom Edition (FE).
They will be priced at less than 700,000 won ($ 616) and sales are slated to begin July 7, Yonhap said.
The recall was deeply embarrassing for Samsung, but has just launched a new iconic device, the Galaxy S8, to positive reviews and strong orders.
In April, it posted its highest quarterly net profit for more than three years, although it has been under pressure on broader fronts.
Lee Jae-Yong, a vice president of the Samsung group and heir to his leadership, is being tried for bribery in connection with the corruption scandal that ousted former South Korean President Park Geun-Hye.
Lee is accused of bribing Park and her secret confidant Choi Soon-Sil with millions of dollars to seek government favors.
He has effectively been the helm of the group since his father suffered a heart attack in 2014.
His indictment in February sent shockwaves through the firm and prompted the announcement of a major overhaul of his top-down management style.
