(Corrects headline and first paragraph to say Nvidia was
recalling some tablets, not all. Corrects to say company will
replace Shield tablets with battery types that test Y01, not all
83,000 tablets, in paragraph 3)
* To recall some Shield tablets sold in the US
* Says batteries can overheat, posing fire hazard
* Shield is targeted at gaming enthusiasts
July 31 (Reuters) - Nvidia Corp NVDA.O said it was
recalling some of its Shield 8-inch tablets in the United States
as the battery in these devices can overheat, posing a fire
hazard.
The Android-based tablet, which has a price tag of
$300-$400, is targeted at gaming enthusiasts and comes equipped
with batteries that are made to last longer.
Nvidia, better known for its graphics chips, said it would
replace Shield tablets with battery types that test Y01 it sold
in the United States since the product's launch in July 2014.
ID:nMKWmQzZca
Nvidia spokesman Hector Marinez said the company will
"continue to aggressively adopt best practices to avoid such
concerns in the future."
"Products containing lithium-ion batteries have been the
subject of numerous recalls across the electronics industry,"
Marinez told Reuters, adding that the costs associated with the
recall are not expected to be significant.
Nvidia did not disclose Shield tablet sales in other
markets, though a statement on U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission's (CPSC) website states that about 5,000 were sold in
Canada. ID:nPn6c4Tgm
Stifel Nicolaus and Co analyst Kevin Cassidy, who owns a
Shield tablet, estimated that the optional recall may cost
Nvidia $1 million at the most. Cassidy said he has asked the
company for a replacement.
Nvidia has asked owners to use the tablet only to initiate a
replacement process on the company's website and to back up
data.
The chipmaker has received four reports of batteries
overheating due to thermal runaway, including two reports of
damage to flooring, according to the CPSC statement.
The recall does not affect any other Nvidia product, the
company said.