Samsung will be refurbishing some recalled Note7s for re-use, as well as removing components and extracting metals from the ill-fated phablet.
Don’t be alarmed if you happen to see someone using a Galaxy Note7 over the summer. Ahead of this week’s Galaxy S8 unveiling, Samsung has announced a three-point program for recycling of its failed phablets, and some of them will eventually make their way back into consumers’ hands.
The press release doesn’t specify how many of the phones will be returned to the wild, but Samsung confirms it will be using some returned devices as “refurbished phones or rental phones.” Samsung offers a leasing program that lets you upgrade to a new device after a year of payments, but Samsung doesn’t say whether it would be selling refurbished Note7s to these customers.
It specifies that “applicability is dependent upon consultations with regulatory authorities and carriers as well as due consideration of local demand.
