Samsung’s mistake of shipping Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that have a tendency to explode could have boosted sales of the iPhone. According to a new survey, 26 percent of people who returned the hot handset are switching to Apple.

Samsung issued a press release today to update on its Note 7 recall stats. More than 60 percent of buyers in the U.S. have now returned their faulty handsets, and 90 percent of them chose a new Note 7 as a replacement “since products became widely available.”

[contextly_auto_sidebar] But a new survey from SurveyMonkey, which polled 507 Americans over the weekend, tells a different story. Just 18 percent of respondents said they would accept another Note 7, while only 21 percent said that would opt for another Samsung smartphone.

What’s really worrying for Samsung is that about 35 percent of those surveyed said they would be seeking a refund for their faulty handset, while 26 percent said they would be switching to an iPhone instead.

It probably doesn’t help that Samsung’s recall came just a week before Apple announced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which offer water-resistant designs, stereo speakers, improved displays, and Apple’s incredible new A10 Fusion processor.

Another issue is that despite offering brand new replacements for faulty devices, it took Samsung over a month to get those replacements into users’ hands. In some markets, the device is still unobtainable, so those returning an old one just have to wait.

Despite the battery issue, the Galaxy Note 7 is widely considered Samsung’s best smartphone to date. I reviewed it for Cult of Mac recently and I think it’s a terrific device. If you’re an Android user, this is the smartphone you want to get (assuming you can find a safe one).

Via: USA Today