Samsung is facing more turmoil after one of its supposedly safe new Note 7 handsets exploded in China.

The company was forced to issue a recall of its new flagship smartphone this month, amid multiple reports that faulty batteries made the phones overheat, burst into flames and explode. It then began a costly replacement programme to give customers safe devices.

But some of the new phones are already proving problematic, after reports that a device bought only this week in China has already burst into flames while charging. Others have reported that the new phones have been overheating and losing battery charge quickly, even when connected to a power supply.

Hui Renjie, a tech worker who ordered his phone online on Sunday and received it the same day, said that on Monday morning, after charging it overnight, the device caught on fire, causing injuries to his fingers and damaging his nearby laptop.