Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphones have gone back on sale in South Korea, almost a month after the electronics giant was forced to undertake a worldwide recall of the devices over a fire risk.

The new phones have been fitted with new batteries, a spokesman said. They will go on sale again in Europe on October 28.

Samsung launched the recall early last month after admitting the phablet, which was originally launched on August 19 and sold in several countries, could burst into flames while charging.

Several airlines also banned passengers from bringing them on board.

The company said 2.5 million phones were affected and offered all customers replacements, including 1.4 million customers in South Korea and the US alone.

US consumer authorities said they had received 92 reports of the phones overheating or catching fire.

Samsung insiders say that 95% of the people returning their handset are opting to continue with a Samsung model. There is – they say – huge customer loyalty.

However Samsung has lost a month of its carefully planned sales pitch in the campaign against Apple and its new iPhone 7, and Google is hovering with its Pixel phones expected to be launched this week.

-AAP