Main points
- In South Korea, a case of a Galaxy S24 catching fire while in use was reported.
- Samsung has contacted the victim to investigate and plans to collect the device for examination to determine the cause of the fire.
A smartphone suddenly catches fire in the owner's hands: what happened to the Samsung Galaxy S24 / Freepik
A new case of a Samsung smartphone catching fire while in use has been reported in South Korea. The device suddenly began emitting thick smoke and heating up, leading to serious consequences for the owner.
What happened to the smartphone?
The Internet community is actively discussing a recent incident with the Galaxy S24 model, which was released two years ago. The cause was the explosion of the device in the hands of the user. According to PhoneArena, the event occurred on May 11, 2026 in South Korea.
According to the victim, who shared his story on Reddit, the situation developed instantly. The smartphone suddenly started to smoke, the temperature of the case rose rapidly, and then an explosion occurred. The most alarming factor is that at that moment the gadget was working normally.
This incident occurred during normal use, when I was just browsing the internet,
– commented a user under the pseudonym chocho-789.
The owner claims that the phone was never plugged into a charger, had no physical damage from drops, and had never been taken apart for repair. Published photos show the device to be completely destroyed.
Samsung Galaxy S24 caught fire during use / Photo chocho-789
Samsung Galaxy S24 caught fire during use / Photo chocho-789
Experts say the consequences could have been much worse if the lower part of the hull had not opened during the fire, which somewhat reduced the force of the blast wave. However, the victim still required medical attention due to symptoms of smoke inhalation, as well as anxiety and insomnia due to stress.
The fire department, which responded to the call, found signs related to a lithium-ion battery fire at the scene,
– reported journalist Aman Kumar, who first reported this story.
Samsung representatives have already contacted the victim to conduct a thorough investigation. It is expected that the device will be taken for examination to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Samsung has not yet made any public comments.
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This is not the first such incident this year. As Channel 24 recalls, there were earlier reports of a Galaxy S25 Plus exploding while charging, but then the manufacturer's investigation showed that the cause was an external mechanical force.
It is also impossible not to mention the large-scale crisis of 2016 with the Galaxy Note 7 model, which had a defective battery design. After the start of sales, users began to massively report cases of smartphones overheating, emitting smoke, catching fire and even exploding during charging or normal use. Some devices caught fire on tables, in pockets, in cars and even on airplanes.
This problem was so serious that the devices were banned from being carried on airplanes around the world, and the company was forced to recall all units of the product, which cost it billions of dollars, writes TechRadar.
One of the most famous episodes was the evacuation of passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight in the United States. The Galaxy Note 7 phone started smoking right in the cabin before takeoff. According to eyewitnesses, the smartphone burned the plane's carpet and filled the cabin with thick smoke. Due to a series of such incidents, airlines around the world began to ban the transportation of the Galaxy Note 7 in luggage and hand luggage. The US Federal Aviation Administration also issued separate warnings, writes Condé Nast Traveler.
Samsung initially tried to solve the problem by recalling a batch of smartphones and replacing the batteries. The company believed that the problem was limited to batteries from one manufacturer. But the situation became even worse when even the “safe” replacement devices began to catch fire.
As a result, Samsung completely stopped production of the Galaxy Note 7 and recalled approximately 3 million smartphones worldwide. It became one of the biggest technical failures in the history of the mobile industry. The company lost billions of dollars and its reputation was seriously damaged.
Further investigation revealed that the cause was a defect in the lithium-ion batteries. In some batteries, the electrodes were deformed due to being packed too tightly inside the case. In others, there were welding errors and problems with the insulating tape. As a result, short circuits occurred, after which the battery entered the so-called “thermal runaway” – a process of uncontrolled heating that can end in a fire or explosion.
After the scandal, Samsung changed its battery testing procedures and introduced a multi-level battery inspection system. The story of the Galaxy Note 7 has become so ingrained in popular culture that the smartphone is still remembered as a symbol of technological disaster. Even years later, users on social networks and Reddit discuss the case as one of the most dangerous failures of the mobile industry.
Samsung wasn't the only one whose smartphones caught fire
However, Samsung was far from the only company to experience such incidents. Cases of smartphones catching fire have also occurred with phones from other brands, although not on such a scale.
Apple smartphones have also repeatedly become a source of scandals due to batteries. In different years, there have been reports of iPhone models catching fire and exploding during charging, overheating or mechanical damage. Often the problem was associated with a swollen battery. In some cases, users received burns to their hands or face. Separate incidents occurred in Apple Stores, where smartphones started smoking right during a service check.
Several high-profile cases have involved OnePlus smartphones. Photos of devices with burnt casings and melted displays have surfaced online, and some users have reported that the phones were overheating at night while charging.
Similar stories have also occurred with Xiaomi, Motorola, and Google phones. Most often, they were about problems with lithium-ion batteries, poor-quality chargers, or physical damage to the batteries.
Risks and dangers
Such incidents are especially dangerous due to the peculiarities of lithium-ion batteries. They are able to accumulate a large amount of energy in a compact case. If the insulation between the elements inside the battery is broken, a short circuit occurs, writes 24 Kanal . The temperature begins to rise rapidly, the battery emits gases, and then it can catch fire or explode. That is why airlines are so strict about damaged smartphones and power banks.
In many cases, users have noticed alarming signs before the fire: swelling of the case, overheating, a burning smell, a sharp drop in charge or deformation of the display. Experts emphasize that such symptoms should not be ignored. If the battery begins to swell or the phone overheats, the device should be immediately stopped charging and taken to a service center.
The story of exploding smartphones has had a significant impact on the entire industry, recalls 24 Kanal. Manufacturers have tightened battery quality control, added new protection mechanisms, and changed fast charging systems. But the risk has not completely disappeared. Due to their high energy density, modern lithium-ion batteries still remain potentially dangerous, especially in the event of a manufacturing defect, overheating, or physical damage.
What to do if your smartphone starts smoking or catches fire: rules and instructions
If your smartphone starts to get very hot, hiss, smoke, or catch fire, you need to act as quickly as possible. In most cases, the cause is a lithium-ion battery that is going into a state of so-called “thermal runaway.” This is a dangerous reaction in which the battery begins to release heat, toxic gases, and flames in an uncontrolled manner. Such fires can develop very quickly.
The first sign of a problem is often severe overheating. The phone can become unnaturally hot even without a load. Sometimes there is a burning or chemical smell, crackling, hissing or clicking sounds. Also dangerous signals are swelling of the case, deformation of the display, leakage of liquid from the battery or the appearance of smoke, reports the London Fire Brigade.
If your smartphone has just started to overheat or smoke, the first thing you need to do is stop charging it. Unplug the power cable, but only if it is safe and the device can still be handled without the risk of burns . After that, the smartphone should be moved away from flammable objects: curtains, furniture, clothing, paper, blankets or mattresses. Experts advise placing it on concrete, tiles, a metal surface or in a metal container, writes the Department of Security and Emergency Services.
If your phone has already started to catch fire, the main rule is not to try to save the device. The safety of people is more important than the equipment. You need to leave the room immediately and call the rescuers. Lithium-ion batteries can re-ignite even some time after extinguishing. In addition, they emit toxic smoke that should not be inhaled , warns ICC Compliance Center Inc.
A separate problem is the widespread myths about extinguishing such fires. The Internet often writes that water cannot be used. In reality, the situation is more complicated. For conventional lithium-ion smartphone batteries, water can help cool the device and contain the spread of flames, especially if there is no fire extinguisher. But this should be done carefully and only if the fire is small and there is no risk to life.
You should never handle a damaged or swollen battery, puncture the smartphone, try to disassemble it, or throw it in the trash. A punctured battery can instantly catch fire.
If the fire starts in a pocket, you should throw it away or remove it as soon as possible. Phones have been known to cause serious burns to the legs, stomach, and arms. In Brazil, a woman suffered second- and third-degree burns after her Motorola smartphone suddenly caught fire in her back pocket in a supermarket, as previously reported by News.com.au.
After any incident, the smartphone should not be charged or turned on again. It should be taken to a service center or electronics recycling center. Damaged lithium-ion batteries remain dangerous even after they stop smoking, writes the Unified Fire Authority.
What to do to reduce the risk of your smartphone battery catching fire
To reduce the risk of such situations, it is recommended to use only original or certified chargers, not to cover the phone while charging, not to leave it in the sun or in a car in the heat, and not to charge the smartphone in bed or under a pillow. Also, you should not use a device with a swollen battery or damaged case, advises 24 Kanal .