Galaxy S25 Plus Bursts Into Flames in South Korea: A Cautionary Tale of Heat and Hardware

The terrifying reality of modern tech struck again when a Galaxy S25 Plus in South Korea spontaneously burst into flames. What began as a typical day for user Cheoeuijan-ah ended in panic, smoke, and the acrid smell of burned plastic – an experience no smartphone owner ever wants to face.

According to the user, the Galaxy S25 Plus wasn’t even charging when the incident occurred. It was simply being held in hand when the device started heating up unnaturally. Within seconds, it emitted a sharp popping sound, prompting the owner to drop it. The phone then began to smoke and char right on the floor – a dramatic end for a brand-new flagship smartphone.

Cheoeuijan-ah later took the phone to a Samsung Service Center, hoping for answers. However, the company’s technicians could not determine what caused the phone to combust. Their official conclusion: “unknown cause.” That vague response did little to reassure a worried community of users, especially after years of headlines involving lithium-ion battery failures and Samsung’s infamous Note 7 recall saga.

“I was holding the S25+ in my hand and it started to overheat and make a loud noise, so I threw it on the floor and it started to ash,” the owner recounted. “Samsung Service Center said that the cause is unknown after investigation.”

While Samsung’s S25 lineup includes advanced heat management systems – with a larger vapor chamber and refined thermal throttling compared to its predecessors – reports of heating are not rare. Reddit threads from early 2025 were filled with users saying their Galaxy S25 Plus units became uncomfortably warm even under moderate use, such as during video calls or app updates. For most, this heating never escalated beyond inconvenience. But for Cheoeuijan-ah, it turned catastrophic.

Another user from February wrote, “My S25+ gets hot fast, especially near the top,” while an April user shared, “After just 10 minutes of WhatsApp video calling, it hits 40°C.” These anecdotes, while not proof of systemic flaws, add to the growing sense that something about Samsung’s new thermal balance might need revisiting.

It’s worth noting that overheating in smartphones can stem from many sources beyond the manufacturer’s control. Physical damage, poor ventilation during charging, exposure to direct sunlight, or even the use of unverified apps can all stress the internal components. In the S25’s case, though, Samsung’s inability to identify the issue leaves open the question: was this a one-in-a-million hardware defect, or a sign of something deeper?

There are even whispers that similar cases have surfaced before – including one allegedly involving a Samsung employee’s device that reportedly exploded internally and was “handled quietly.” Critics argue that manufacturers often avoid discussing such internal incidents publicly to prevent panic or reputational harm, while defenders point out that isolated cases are statistically inevitable among millions of devices sold.

Experts note that lithium-ion batteries, while efficient and compact, remain chemically volatile. Even microscopic manufacturing flaws, punctures, or pressure from bending can lead to short circuits and thermal runaway – a chain reaction that turns heat into fire. Until safer alternatives like solid-state or silicon-carbon cells become mainstream, these rare yet shocking events may continue to haunt the tech world.

Although this single event doesn’t yet rise to the scale of the Galaxy Note 7 crisis, Samsung faces renewed pressure to provide transparent findings and reassurances. For users, it’s a reminder that even top-tier devices are not immune to risk. Whether through faulty cells, heat stress, or pure bad luck, technology’s thin line between innovation and danger remains uncomfortably real.

For now, Samsung has yet to issue an official statement. If history is any guide, the company will likely investigate internally and issue a clarification once testing concludes – hopefully before the next Galaxy owner finds themselves holding a ticking pocket furnace.