What you need to know
- A South Korean Galaxy S24 user reported on Reddit that, under normal use, their phone combusted.
- Their report says that their phone started to swell rapidly before it burst, becoming engulfed in flames.
- The user has been treated for burns and smoke inhalation, adding that Samsung has reached out and they are cooperating.
A user online reported the one thing no one ever wants to deal with: their phone literally exploded.
A South Korean user (username: chocho-789) reported on Reddit that their Galaxy S24 exploded in their hand earlier this week (via SamMobile). The user recounted the May 11 incident, stating, “My Galaxy S24 suddenly emitted smoke, extreme heat, and exploded in my hand while I was using it normally to search the internet.” The user makes it clear that their phone was not charging, it never received fall damage, and the device had never been opened.
The user states that, while using their phone, it “suddenly” swelled rapidly before exploding.
The combustion was so severe that the entire inside of their Galaxy S24 was charred to a crisp. What’s more, a provided image shows their phone tossed onto the ground, covered in flames. The fire department was rightfully called, and the user states they received treatment for burns and smoke inhalation, as well as anxiety. The fire department presence reportedly confirmed “lithium battery ignition.”
The user provided a couple of updates, but none more significant than Samsung finally establishing contact as of May 13. A local director of the Samsung Service Center has been in contact, and the user says they are cooperating and providing the necessary records. They state that what they would like is for Samsung to focus on the matter, to handle it seriously, without worrying about compensation.
There was another fire…
Users in the thread’s comments have continued to express their concerns for the user, while also showcasing their displeasure with the incident. This can be frightening, especially since we all use our phones every day. If this wasn’t worrying enough, an incident like this occurred recently with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Plus.
In October, a user reported that their Galaxy S25 Plus caught fire and provided an image of the phone split in two. The incident was kind of similar, as the user said their phone caught fire while not charging. Moreover, they said that their device started to overheat before bursting into flames. The user wasn’t hurt in this report. Samsung responded to the incident, stating it had launched an investigation into it.
Android Central’s Take
I saw a Redditor’s comment that said, “Me looking at this post on my samsung s24” (courtesy of BrightBanner). It made me laugh because the vast majority of you reading this article might be on your phone. And that phone could be a Galaxy S24 or a Galaxy S25. As you’d imagine, it was a laugh of pain. This situation is scary, and you can see that in that user’s comment. Like, “are you going to…?” I hope no one experiences this. It sucks that this user in South Korea had to endure this, but hopefully, their wish of Samsung taking this seriously comes true.