US regulators order recall of 1m Samsung Note 7 phones

US safety regulators have announced a formal recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 after reports of fires caused by faulty batteries.

The South Korean tech giant had already launched a voluntary recall after user complaints about 'exploding' phones.

According to Samsung, the problem affects 2.5 million devices globally, including 1 million in the US.

The recall comes at a crucial time as rival Apple has just released its new iPhone 7 flagship model.

"Because this product presents such a serious fire hazard, I am urging all consumers... to take advantage of this recall right away,'' Elliot Kaye, chairman of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Mr Kaye said Samsung should not have tried to do the recall by itself, saying: "Anybody who thinks that a company going out on its own is going to provide the best recall for that company, and more importantly for the consumer, needs to have more than their phone checked,"

what a huge hit for samsung

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