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Inside Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 testing lab

Samsung set up special facilities to discover what caused its phone to overheat. Here's a look inside.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
Shara Tibken Former managing editor
Shara Tibken was a managing editor at CNET News, overseeing a team covering tech policy, EU tech, mobile and the digital divide. She previously covered mobile as a senior reporter at CNET and also wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. Shara is a native Midwesterner who still prefers "pop" over "soda."
James Martin
Shara Tibken
3_Large-scale test facility_battery only
3_Large-scale test facility_battery only
2:09
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Samsung's large scale battery testing facility in Gumi, South Korea. As part of a new eight-point safety check, Samsung will implement more frequent battery testing, including overcharging tests, nail puncture tests, and extreme temperature stress testing.

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Running battery tests that examine the impact of wireless charging on the Note 7.

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Testing USB-C battery charging inside Samsung's labs.

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In addition to hardware battery tests, the rigorous process looked at the role software algorithms played as well.

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More software algorithm testing as Samsung undertakes a comprehensive review of its troubled batteries.

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As part of the eight-point battery safety check, a Note 7 undergoes a durability test.

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A battery penetration test in Samsung's labs as part of the company's durability inspection.

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Compression testing on Samsung's batteries as part of a widespread review of the battery's durability.

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A battery life cycle test which is part of Samsung's eight-point battery safety check.

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A visual inspection of Samsung's batteries to check for flaws.

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An X-Ray machine looks inside Samsung's batteries, checking for any abnormalities as part of the eight point safety check.

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The TVOC testing ensures there isn't any possibility of leakage of the battery component.

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Breaking down a battery to take a look at every component is now part of Samsung's battery safety process. This process assesses its overall quality, including the battery tab welding and conditions of insulation tape.

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OCV testing, seen here, checks for any change in voltage throughout the manufacturing process from component level to complete device.

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Samsung discovered the two different batteries provided by its two different suppliers both had problems.

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Samsung explained the issues by showing what a lithium-ion battery looks like internally.

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Samsung discovered some design flaws with Battery A, a battery from the supplier that led to the Note 7's first recall.

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Battery B had some manufacturing issues. When the supplier increased its production to meet Samsung's demand, it introduced some errors into the process that caused the battery to short circuit.

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