The refurbished version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has so far been dubbed Galaxy Note 7R, but it may actually launch as the Galaxy Note FE.
Rumors of a refurbished Galaxy Note 7 first started making rounds back in February, then Samsung confirmed back in March that it does indeed plan to revive the ill-fated handset in select markets.
As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launched last year as a beastly device with top-notch specs and features, but also one major problem: it was explosive. The handset's battery would overheat and eventually catch fire and after numerous incidents, Samsung was forced to pull the device off the market. The company tried to address the issue and re-launched the Galaxy Note 7 a while later, only to hit the same problem.
Samsung eventually recalled the Galaxy Note 7 twice and pulled it off the market for good, remotely disabling any remaining units in the wild. The company is not giving up though, and it seems confident that the refurbished version will be safe.
Samsung Galaxy Note FE
Korean publication ET News now reports (translated) that the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 will hit the market as the Galaxy Note FE, not Galaxy Note 7R as previously rumored. That "FE" is not short for "fire," it reportedly stands for "Fandom Edition," according to the publication.
The Galaxy Note FE is expected to hit the market toward the end of June, sporting the same specifications as the original Galaxy Note 7 except for a smaller (and hopefully non-explosive) battery. The handset should retail at a significantly lower price point than the original model, albeit it remains unclear just which other markets it will reach outside of South Korea.
The Galaxy Note 7R, or Galaxy Note FE, reportedly carries model number SM-N935 and has already obtained the necessary certifications from the Bluetooth SIG, the Wi-Fi Alliance and the FCC, the latter suggesting that it might make its way to the United States as well.
Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Specs
The refurbished version of the Galaxy Note 7 will feature the same specs as the original model, meaning a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with QHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels), a Samsung 8890 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable storage, a 12-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization, and a 5-megapixel front shooter. The original Galaxy Note 7 had a 3,500 mAh battery, but the refurbished Galaxy Note FE will reportedly pack a smaller 3,200 mAh unit.
The Galaxy Note FE will likely be available in the same colors as the original model, meaning White, Black, Silver and Blue Coral. Rumor has it that it will cost 3,599 yuan in China, which would translate to roughly $521.
The "Fandom Edition" name reportedly indicates that the smartphone is making a comeback for fans who loved the original Galaxy Note 7 and were disappointed that they could no longer have it.
