UPDATE: Samsung has provided a statement regarding the recall of its Galaxy Note 7 devices.

"In response to recently reported cases of the new Galaxy Note 7, we conducted a thorough investigation and found a battery cell issue.

To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market. However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note 7.

For customers who already have Galaxy Note 7 devices, we will voluntarily replace their current device with a new one over the coming weeks.

We acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause in the market but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to our customers. We are working closely with our partners to ensure the replacement experience is as convenient and efficient as possible."

Everything appeared to go swimmingly for Samsung. Their latest phablet, the Galaxy Note 7, was universally recognised as a success following its unveiling last month, but recent consumer complaints could throw a major spanner in the works.

Having shipped to several countries over the past few weeks, there have been reports that Galaxy Note 7 devices exploded, with the battery being identified as the issue. A potentially catastrophic problem for both Note 7 users and Samsung, the South Korean manufacturer is reportedly preparing to recall all of the new phablets that have been distributed and sold over the past month.

Although Samsung has not officially commented on the issue [see update], South Korean news outlet Yonhap, says a recall will soon be announced. At the moment, Samsung is believed to be in discussion with carriers who have already distributed the device in their respective regions, before an official recall is issued.

It is also unclear at the stage what the status of the Galaxy Note 7's local release is. At the time of writing, Samsung Mobile South Africa had initially postponed the phablet's release until 23 September, due to high demand internationally.

As such, this is a developing story and updates are likely forthcoming.