Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR A two-month-old Galaxy S25 Plus exploded while charging in November 2025, and the affected user reports that Samsung has now admitted liability.
The company has reportedly agreed to cover the cost of the phone, medical bills, and cleanup, and has offered $500 per person for pain and suffering.
We’ve verified the user’s claims, including the report from the local fire department and Samsung’s offer.
Update: January 22, 2026 (4:35 PM ET): A spokesperson for Samsung Electronics America has reached out to Android Authority and provided the following statement: We stand behind the quality and safety of the millions of Samsung mobile devices in use across the country. While our analysis could not determine a root cause responsible for this isolated incident, we remain in contact with our customer to reach a resolution. Update: January 22, 2026 (3:08 AM ET): Android Authority has since been in direct contact with the affected user, who has shared documentation with us. We’ve reviewed the local fire department report, which confirms a thermal runaway event, as well as written communication showing Samsung has offered compensation covering the phone, medical expenses, cleanup costs, and a separate pain-and-suffering amount. This confirms that the incident did occur as described and that Samsung has made the compensation offer described in the original Reddit post. We’ve also reached out to Samsung US for a comment on the matter. Original article: January 22, 2026 (2:07 AM ET): Samsung has reportedly admitted liability in a case involving a Galaxy S25 Plus that exploded while charging. The incident involved a two-month-old Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus that suffered a “thermal runaway event” in November 2025 at a home in Indiana, USA.
According to the user, the Galaxy S25 Plus was charging overnight using an official Samsung charger and cable when it exploded, caught fire, and burned through the family’s carpet. The user says everyone in the home inhaled fumes from the incident, leading to an urgent care visit for smoke inhalation and respiratory symptoms.
The family says they pursued the matter formally and submitted extensive documentation to Samsung, including a local fire department report explicitly confirming a thermal runaway event (battery overheating), medical records related to smoke inhalation, and receipts confirming the purchase of the phone and official charging accessories. The fire department reportedly held the damaged device for about a month before sending it to Samsung’s forensic team for an internal investigation.
Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a favorite source in Google Discover to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more.
to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more. You can also set us as a preferred source in Google Search by clicking the button below.
... continue reading