[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics plans to go ahead with the planned launch of its latest Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in China amid growing concerns about the phone’s allegedly faulty batteries on its home turf.

The company will start sales of the big-screen Note 7 in China, the world’s largest smartphone market, from 11 p.m. on Sept. 1. 




After a series of reports on the phone’s explosion, Samsung has tentatively concluded that some of the defective batteries have caused explosions while charging.

Samsung SDI, the battery-making unit of Samsung Group, produces the battery cell while outsourcing the battery pack production to other firms.

ITM Semiconductor, a Korean firm, produces the battery pack for the phones sold in Korea. Most of the phones to be sold in China are said to have been equipped with those produced by China’s Amperex Technology.

Having suspended the Note’s shipments in Korea since early this week, Samsung is reportedly considering recalling all the phones in Korea, offering free exchange of the battery. 

In the meantime, the phone's Europe launch, scheduled on Sept. 2, is also expected to be made as planned. After a yearlong hiatus, the phone is hitting the market. 

Samsung skipped Europe for the precedessor Note 5 launch last year to focus more on key markets such as the US and Asia for bigger-screen phones. 

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)