WARNING when purchasing a Galaxy S4

[milan188]

Some Samsung Galaxy S4 have been shipped with a battery defect.

There has been a bad batch where the battery gets swollen and loses charge rapidly. Phone soon becomes unusable. It will only work if there's a power cable connected.

Now this batch is easily identifiable. Please make sure you ask the seller to give you the "S/N:" code of the battery. It is located near the bottom of the battery. See picture attached.

Now if the S/N code starts with "BD" it means it is part of the batch which has the battery defects. It may be possible that not all the BD batteries have defects but it is highly likely.

As a seller I suggest you get a new battery before you sell the device. Batteries are covered by warranty for the first 6 months since purchase. You may need to try different branches of your service provider as they are unaware of the problem. It is likely the battery will get swollen and that will be the best proof.

As a buyer please double check the battery S/N code from pictures and when you exchange the device. It is also recommend you ask for original purchase documentation for warranty purposes and ADH.

For proof you can visit Sammobile.com, Xda-Devolopers.com and I have experienced this myself as a S4 user.

See here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2479688 and

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2479662

Read the threads you will see everyone which had a "BD" battery had the same problems and both threads include references to the Sammobile article

Moderators please sticky/pin this thread

Sent from a Galaxy S4 now Free

 

[milan188]

Here's a pic of the battery

Sent from a Galaxy S4 now Free

 

[SkiZo]

Mine is a BD model but not yet obese.

If I take it to Samsung would they swap it out?

 

[milan188]

I suggest you wait till it starts giving problems so you can prove to them there's something wrong with the battery. You can try and maybe they know about it if you speak to someone senior.

I don't know why Samsung hasn't issued an official statement yet and this problem is only cropping up after 2-5 months of use.

Sent from a Galaxy S4 now Free

 

[m05am]

Yeah this is true.. friend got 1 on sunday from vodacom and this morning went back coz was battery wasn giving trouble and they took it back.. only now she gota wait for a new 1

 

[reactor_sa]

BD even stands for Battery Defect

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

 

[gilani777]

Had a friend who had a swollen battery. Took to samsung in Weltervreden park (west jhb) and they swopped it out

 

[eagle2k]

Got upgraded to one of these. Battery worked well, but after I read this I went to MTN and they were aware of it. Next day I got a new replaced battery. Makes you wonder as [MENTION=416]reactor_sa[/MENTION] says.

Sent from my MediaPad 10 FHD using Tapatalk 4

 

[SkiZo]

Got upgraded to one of these. Battery worked well, but after I read this I went to MTN and they were aware of it. Next day I got a new replaced battery. Makes you wonder as [MENTION=416]reactor_sa[/MENTION] says.

Sent from my MediaPad 10 FHD using Tapatalk 4

Did they ask for a POP or anything?

 

[eagle2k]

Well I upgraded there. They just checked the imei number

Edited:

And my online profile for my contract and personal details.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[bretth]

I have a bd version but haven't noticed anything apart from heat during high usage? Guys reckon I should just try take the battery back sometime? Contact with mtn

 

[eagle2k]

I have a bd version but haven't noticed anything apart from heat during high usage? Guys reckon I should just try take the battery back sometime? Contact with mtn

Its what I did. Dont want problems later on with it and go and argue with them 6months later. They were quite understanding 2 weeks after my upgrade.

 

[milan188]

I have a bd version but haven't noticed anything apart from heat during high usage? Guys reckon I should just try take the battery back sometime? Contact with mtn

Take it back before the 6 month warranty expires

Sent from a Galaxy S4

 

[NavZ]

Mine gave problems too

 

[moonsquad]

Mine gave problems too

After reading this thread I opened up my S4 only to find that its battery is a "BD". It's recently started to give me issues as well. Since I bought my phone cash, should I contact Samsung SA directly with regards this issue?

 

[yourang]

Time to upgrade to a Note 3 , it play even plays crysis

None of my clients reported any problems yet , all 8 core versions.

 

[moonsquad]

Time to upgrade to a Note 3 , it play even plays crysis

None of my clients reported any problems yet , all 8 core versions.

No thanks, my S4 is big enough lol

 

[hunter]

Same also have B/D Battery but only gets a bit hot now and then? Got it on forum, who should take battery to? Samsung? ( Cresta one seems useless)

 

[Air]

Went to Vodacom Fourways.. they only had bd batteries and no official Samsung recall..

 

[moonsquad]

Went to Vodacom Fourways.. they only had bd batteries and no official Samsung recall..

I filed a service report with Samsung SA online but they want me to ship the device to them. That's unfortunately not an option as I need to use my phone over the coming weeks. Looks like I'm gonna have to head to MTN in Century City and see what they say :/

 

[gilani777]

For everyone in JHB, dont go to Samsung stores(fourways,cresta etc). Go to their actual customer help centre. This is here: Samsung ADH Centre . They know about the issue and will replace the battery (and fix other damage sometimes) for free

 

[hunter]

For everyone in JHB, dont go to Samsung stores(fourways,cresta etc). Go to their actual customer help centre. This is here: Samsung ADH Centre . They know about the issue and will replace the battery (and fix other damage sometimes) for free

Thanks will go past there on Wednesday

 

[ckleu]

Swapped my battery today it was also faulty.

 

[NavZ]

For everyone in JHB, dont go to Samsung stores(fourways,cresta etc). Go to their actual customer help centre. This is here: Samsung ADH Centre . They know about the issue and will replace the battery (and fix other damage sometimes) for free

Anyone in CT know where I can just have my bat swapped?
MTN/Autopage wants me to book my phone in & if they're happy, they'll send me a complete new phone.
ETA is 10 working days :/

 

[moonsquad]

Anyone in CT know where I can just have my bat swapped?
MTN/Autopage wants me to book my phone in & if they're happy, they'll send me a complete new phone.
ETA is 10 working days :/

I phoned Samsung Head Office this morning and told them about the issue as well as the 2 repair centres in CPT. You can either head over to MTN in Century City (which is a registered repair centre for Samung devices) or you can head out to the repair centre in Montague Gardens. You'll just have to produce some form of PoP and then they should swap out the battery for you if its still within the 6 month warranty period.

If you head to this page you'll find all the relevant contact information.

 

[bilbo]

Just had mines swapped out also at the Century City smart care centre. Had to wait for them to get stock. Looks like that might be the only issue in the coming weeks.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk now Free

 

[Peekachuuu]

Heard about this too, thanks for the tip.

 

[SkiZo]

When I first saw this ma battery was fine.. about a week ago it started but I thought I was going crazy but now it is pretty damn clear. Even the battery cover isnt flat anymore.

Will have to get to them sometime

 

[eagle2k]

I took the courtesy of reporting this to my intel which is part of the samsung technical support group. They were informed of this being a part of a promotional import container.
Big issues now

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[moonsquad]

I took the courtesy of reporting this to my intel which is part of the samsung technical support group. They were informed of this being a part of a promotional import container.
Big issues now

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

What exactly is a promotional import container? :?