Samsung Galaxy phone allegedly explodes in pocket, marking fourth incident this year

On an otherwise ordinary day in Greater Noida, India, a man found himself the victim of an alleged smartphone explosion, resulting in severe burn injuries to his hands and lower body. The Samsung device, which appears to be a Galaxy S26 based on the camera layout, had been functioning normally until the incident. The exact model remains unclear due to the extensive damage caused by the explosion.

Photos show catastrophic thermal damage to the phone’s battery and back panel, with the device having burst into flames unexpectedly. The victim, who was carrying the phone in his trouser pocket, attempted to remove the burning handset, leading to the burns. It is reported that the device was purchased just one month prior to the incident, and no previous issues had been noticed.

This marks the fourth reported Galaxy flagship explosion incident this year, although such cases remain exceedingly rare when compared to the millions of units sold worldwide. Previous incidents involving the Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 FE, and Galaxy S24 have also been documented this year.