Battery Fire Hazard: Nvidia Recalls 88,000 Shield Tablets Sold In The U.S.


In a major development, Nvidia has announced that it was recalling as many as 88,000 Shield tablets that it sold across the United States. The visual computing company known for its graphics cards and gaming accessories added that they have identified a problem with the battery in the tablet that could lead to overheating and eventually fire. According to CNET, Nvidia is planning to replace 88,000 Shield tablets that it sold in the U.S. over the course of the past one year.

The Nvidia Shield is an Android-powered tablet that is targeted at gaming enthusiasts. With a price tag ranging between $300 and $400, the tablet was known for its large battery size — an attribute required for long hours of gaming. It was launched exactly a year ago — in July of 2015. Nvidia also issued a statement on its official website announcing the recall of the Shield tablets.

“Nvidia has determined that the battery in these tablets can overheat, posing a fire hazard. The recall does not affect any other Nvidia products. Nvidia is also asking consumers to stop using the recalled tablet, except as needed to participate in the recall and back up data. Consumers will receive a replacement tablet after registering to participate in the recall. Nvidia is coordinating with appropriate governmental agencies to ensure that the recall follows established industry practices.”

Nvidia spokesman Hector Marinez added that the company “will continue to aggressively adopt best practices to avoid such concerns in the future.”

He explained the recall to Reuters.

“Products containing lithium-ion batteries have been the subject of numerous recalls across the electronics industry.”

Nvidia has also sold the Shield in several countries. At the moment it isn’t clear whether Nvidia would start to initiate recalls from other countries as well.

Meanwhile, if you are worried about your Nvidia Shield being one of the affected ones, go to Settings- > click About tablet, and then choose Status. In the information field that appears, there would be details about the battery.

Nvidia shield battery details

If your battery is labeled B01, your tablet is not affected by the problem. However, if your battery is detected as Y01, you might want to use this form to initiate the replacement process.

Are you affected by the Nvidia Shield battery problem? If yes, do share your experiences below in the comments section.

[Image Via Nvidia]

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