Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Priced At $440 To Launch Before Galaxy Note 8

Samsung intends not to let the 2016 Galaxy Note 7 debacle stand in the way of reintroducing the Galaxy Note brand. Although the South Korean tech giant has yet to provide a date for the launch of the refurbished Galaxy Note 7, reports indicate it would be done before its successor, the Galaxy Note 8, would roll out.

There were speculations that the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 would have a retail price of $620. However, latest reports say it would have a lower price tag of $440, or about half of its $870 original price before exploding batteries led to the recall of millions of the model, GSM Arena reports.

The refurbished Galaxy Note 7 would be rebranded as Galaxy Note 7R. All of its specs would be the same as the original. The only changes are it would run on Android Nougat 7.0 and powered by a slightly smaller 3,200mAh battery.

Before the battery scandal hit the model, the Galaxy Note 7 was well received by consumers and tech websites. Android Authority gave it a 9.3 out of 10 in its review. It says the $440 price for the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 just 10 months after the former flagship’s debut is an incredibly inviting offer. The website points out that the Galaxy S7, which rolled out more than 12 months ago at an unlocked price of $600, is not yet selling for $300, or half its original price.

The refurbished Galaxy Note 7 would first sell in South Korea. Since the U.S. remains a big market for Samsung phones, the South Korean tech giant got the approval from the Federal Communications Commission to sell the Galaxy Note 7R in the United States. However, it would need to apply for a safety certification from the National Radio Research Agency, the local regulator, BGR reports. Given the average one month it takes to secure an approval from the agency, the possibility is that American consumers who want to buy the $440 phone would likely find it in local stores by early June.