When I think of phones exploding, Samsung is always the first brand that comes to mind. The memory of the Galaxy Note 7 crisis still lingers in my memory.
Although the company has since rebuilt its reputation and tightened its battery testing standards, it seems history is bent on repeating itself.
A recent incident involving a couple and their Galaxy S25+ explosion is now threatening to drag them to court.
How this couple's Samsung phone nearly barbecued them
A couple has shared an interesting story on Reddit about their two-month-old Galaxy S25+. The device exploded while it was charging at night. It burnt a small patch of their carpet and filled the room with fumes from, while also melting polyester fibers.
As a result, they both developed mild throat irritation and chest tightness. They contacted poison control, and were told to shower and breathe steam. They later went to urgent care, where doctors confirmed their lungs were normal before sending them home.
Thinking the air was still contaminated, they built a Corsi–Rosenthal air purifier box, but they accidentally assembled it incorrectly. The fan blew air into the box instead of out. That likely stirred up the remaining microscopic particles and chemicals in the room. They woke up again with chest tightness and disorientation, which scared them further.
They documented the incident, including a fire department report, medical records, and proof of purchase, while also handing the damaged device over for investigation.
The fire department held the phone for about a month before sending it to Samsung’s forensic team. Upon reviewing the evidence, Samsung accepted responsibility for the thermal failure and has agreed to reimburse them for the cost of the phone, their medical expenses, and the cleaning and restoration work.
The issue now is that the compensation for “pain and suffering”, as they've called it, is where Samsung’s insurance arm offered $500 per adult and $500 for their child, making a total of $1,500. It's an amount the couple feels doesn’t reflect the impact of the incident.
Moneygrabbers or a heavily deserving family?
The affected couple are seeking advice from users in similar situations. The reactions are divided. Some people believe the pair should get a lawyer, arguing that Samsung is clearly lowballing them.
Others argue that Samsung is already doing more than expected, given that the phone alone costs $900. They accuse the couple of being moneygrabbers, since they suffered no severe harm from the incident.
That aside, compensation for emotional distress alone in cases like this usually range between $2,500–$10,000 or over, even when injuries are mild. Make of that whatever you will.
In addition to this case, there were previous reports of a Galaxy S25+ unit in South Korea that caught fire even when it wasn’t charging, and the cause is still under investigation.
A separate report details a Galaxy S25 catching fire inside a car while charging, with smoke filling the cabin, according to social-media based coverage.
None of these incidents have led Samsung to issue a public recall or broad safety warning. The company has largely stayed silent beyond settling the single explosion case.
