Only TikTokers could discover that the camera flash on Samsung Galaxy phones is powerful enough to melt through plastic.
A viral video by @neev.akavak shows the LED flash on a Samsung Galaxy S25 FE being used to burn a hole through a black plastic bag – and given that the latest Samsung phones share the same physical flash hardware, it’s likely that all phones in the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S26 lines can pull off the same trick (we’re not trying to repeat it at home, though).
“This is why museums don’t allow flash, people,” reads a comment below the video, while another user writes: “Sometimes I accidentally put my phone in my pocket with the flash on and it feels like it’s burning a hole through me.”
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Of course, the explanation for this ‘problem’ is clear: the best Samsung phones have incredibly powerful LEDs, and light carries energy that produces heat when absorbed by matter such as plastic or skin. If you press a phone’s flashlight against a thin synthetic material, the heat absorbed by that material could conceivably leave a mark.
Samsung itself acknowledges this risk in the flashlight tool, warning users – when lowering the brightness – that “the camera light can cause low-temperature burns when in prolonged contact with the skin. Avoid leaving the flashlight on for a long period of time.”
It is therefore clear that the company relies on a degree of common sense and caution among its user base with features like this; you shouldn’t press your phone’s flashlight against thin surfaces for extended periods of time, just as you shouldn’t — surprise! — swallow your phone whole or smash it against your head (again, don’t try any of these things at home). We’re not talking about fire risk levels for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 here.
Still, as Lee Elliott, chief product officer at phone recycling site Compare and Recycle, tells TechRadar, the risks of bright LED lights in smartphones should still be acknowledged: “Although devices display a warning when the torch [flashlight] is at maximum brightness, we all know how easy it is to forget to turn things off on our devices – or accidentally turn them on.
“This means that problems can arise if Samsung users accidentally leave their flash on in an enclosed space, such as a bag or pocket. Because so many everyday items contain synthetic materials, especially backpacks and clothing, leaving your flashlight on can lead to damage or melting.
“If left on for a long period of time, this could potentially become a fire hazard. So it’s a good reminder to check your flash isn’t on accidentally, avoid covering the light source for long periods, and manually reduce the burner’s brightness below the warning level when using it.”
Samsung is also not alone in supplying extra strong LED flash modules. Last month, several Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro XL users complained that the flashlight modules on their phones were burnt or melted after prolonged use, which is arguably an even more concerning issue.
However, Samsung phones seem to have more powerful flashlights than their Apple counterparts: in a separate video, a YouTuber found the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s flashlight to be significantly weaker than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s, which burned through a plastic plate in the same way as the aforementioned Galaxy S25 FE.
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In short, if you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, you should exercise caution when using your device’s flashlight at full power. Make sure the flash is turned off when you leave your phone in your pocket or on a surface, and always make sure you dispose of used electronics at your local recycling center – don’t just throw them in the bin. And definitely don’t throw them in the trash with any kind of flashlight on. We know how it ends.
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