Popcorn goes well with any movie. Unless that movie is a horror story about your life, and the popping sound is coming from your phone.
That’s exactly how one couple described how their Samsung Galaxy S25+ phone exploded overnight. The incident was serious enough to involve firefighters and even a bomb squad.
Investigations revealed that a thermal runaway event in the lithium-ion battery caused the outbreak. Although it appears rare, factors beyond the hardware failure stood out to me.
Here are some safety habits you shouldn’t ignore when something goes wrong.
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Limit overnight charging: Don’t sleep while your phone is dangerously awake
Sometimes, your phone’s battery is nearly empty at the end of the day.
You probably have an early morning ahead, and don’t want to worry about battery levels. Plugging the device overnight feels like the most convenient option.
Overnight charging is mostly safe on modern smartphones.
There are now built-in features like the 80% charge limit and temperature monitoring that reduce battery stress. But there can be surprises.
Leaving your phone unattended for hours means you’re unaware of overheating or a faulty cable and battery.
You won’t have time to react early. If you must charge overnight, do it with reliable accessories and do safety checks.
I usually remove the case from my phone first. Batteries, especially lithium-ion cells, generate heat while charging.
If you restrict airflow, they’ll get hotter than they would on an open, ventilated surface.
It also helps to enable airplane mode, close unnecessary apps, or turn off the phone. You’ll cut off wireless connections and reduce background activity that contributes to heat.
Monitor multi-port chargers: They mean double trouble
Multi-port chargers are becoming more popular, but it’s debatable how safe they are.
If you have a 240W charger, it’ll divide power across connected devices. So, three devices might get roughly 80W each.
But it’s likely that one phone draws more than its fair share, especially during fast charging. It’ll make both the charger and the devices run hotter than normal.
Such chargers are too risky for overnight charging, especially if they’re from unofficial brands or use cheap materials.
Preferably, try them with one device at a time.
No charging on carpets: Your phone doesn’t need the soft life
It’s not ridiculous that you’ll want to cushion your device from falls or bumps. But its discomfort on a hard surface will save its life.
Soft surfaces are not ideal places to keep it. They’re insulators containing fibers or threads. They have tiny pockets of air that trap heat around your device.
What you need is a conductor that draws heat away from the battery and allows air to circulate freely. Your wood desk or stone countertop are great examples.
Their flatness and tightly packed particles allow air to flow freely.
That said, a bedside table is another option as long as it’s 1 to 2 feet away from you and your pillow.
You’ll want to be far away from the device if anything goes wrong. Also, avoid placing the device right under or close to a warm lamp.
Have a containment plan: To be prepared is to be protected
Nobody wants disaster to reach their doorstep. But you’ll want to be prepared when it does.
Fire outbreaks are among popular household emergencies. Having proper containment methods gives you more control over the situation and lowers risks.
It was only after the Galaxy S25+ fire outbreak that the couple bought a Corsi-Rosenthal air filtration box.
Unfortunately, they installed it incorrectly. It blew air into the center of the box instead of upwards.
It’s unclear whether they had access to other preventive gear before the event.
Besides having the right tools, invest in household safety education.
Many local fire departments or safety organizations offer short courses on portable extinguisher use. They usually cover fire classes and how to operate equipment.
A simple Google Search will also point you to guides and videos covering proper responses to emergencies.
Don’t quench battery fire with water: Your device isn’t thirsty
Ironically, water is not the best weapon against a phone battery fire. The cell contains reactive chemicals.
In particular, lithium is highly reactive with water, and produces hydrogen gas. The gas is flammable, and even a small spark causes an explosion.
Avoid using water or wet fabric unless you’re a professional wearing full protective gear.
A Class D extinguisher would have been the best solution. It’s designed for flammable metals. Since it’s a specialized tool, not every home has it lying around.
Alternatively, use sand from outside or salt from your kitchen for small fires. They’ll cut off oxygen fueling the fire.
If you still don’t have these items, focus on evacuation and calling emergency services.
Create space with smoking devices: Your health is more important
The Galaxy S25+ explosion victims mentioned that the device continued smoking for 15 to 20 minutes. They remained indoors while it happened.
The immediate next step should’ve been to evacuate the house, especially with a younger one around. Luckily, their medical evaluation didn’t produce negative results.
But even when a fire is out, it releases toxic smoke containing aerosols. They pose risks to your lungs and overall health.
You may experience coughing and chest tightness. In the worst case scenario, you could have chemical burns, high blood pressure, long-term lung damage, or tremors.
Also, batteries may reignite. One overheated particle may be trapped inside the cell and trigger a chain reaction.
In such scenarios, it’s better to split responsibilities for the fastest results. One person contains the fire (if it can be helped), while the other calls emergency services and evacuates children or pets.
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Power through every day safely
At the end of the day, nobody is above mistakes.
You can do a million and one things right with your devices and still be blindsided by manufacturer defects.
But you mustn’t abandon safety habits for that reason.
One hack you may find useful is to do multiple short top-ups throughout the day. It’s safer compared to overnight charging.
Also, routinely check that your charger doesn’t have damaged or frayed ends. If you suspect you’ve bought a fake, there are numerous signs to help you confirm.
