Only TikTokers were able to discover that the camera flash on Samsung Galaxy phones is powerful enough to melt through plastic.
A viral video from @neev.akavak shows a Samsung Galaxy S25 FE’s LED flash being used to punch a hole in a black plastic bag – and given that most recent Samsung phones share the same physical flash hardware, it’s likely that all phones in the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S25, and Galaxy S26 ranges can repeat the same trick (we don’t recommend trying to repeat it at home, though).
“This is why museums don’t allow flash, people,” read a comment below the video, while another user wrote: “Sometimes I accidentally put my phone in my pocket with the flash on, and it feels like it’s burning a hole in me.”
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Of course, the explanation for this “problem” is clear: the best Samsung phones are equipped with incredibly powerful LEDs, and light carries energy that produces heat when absorbed by a material like plastic or skin. If you press a phone’s flashlight against a thin synthetic material, the heat absorbed by that material could potentially leave a mark.
Samsung itself acknowledges this risk in the Flashlight tool, warning users – when increasing the brightness – that “the camera light may cause burns at low temperatures with prolonged skin contact. Avoid leaving the flashlight on for an extended period of time.”
So it’s clear that the company is relying on some common sense and caution on the part of its user base with features like this; you shouldn’t press your phone’s flashlight against thin surfaces for long periods of time, just as you shouldn’t – surprise! – swallow your phone whole or bang it against your head (again, don’t try any of these things at home). We’re not talking about the Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s fire risk levels here.
Still, as Lee Elliott, director of product at phone recycling site Compare and Recycle, tells TechRadar, the risks posed by smartphones’ powerful LED lights should continue to be recognized: “Although the devices will display a warning when the torch is on. [flashlight] is on the highest brightness, we all know how easy it is to forget to turn off our devices – or accidentally turn them on.
“This means that problems could arise if Samsung users accidentally leave their flash on in an enclosed space, such as a bag or pocket. Since many everyday objects contain synthetic materials, especially backpacks and clothing, leaving your flashlight on by mistake could lead to damage or melting.”
“If left on for an extended period of time, it could potentially become a fire hazard. So it’s a good reminder to check that your flash is not left on unintentionally, avoid covering the light source for long periods of time, and manually reduce the brightness of the torch below the warning level when using it.”
Samsung isn’t the only one offering extra-powerful LED flash modules, either. Last month, several Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro XL users complained that their phones’ flashlight modules burned or melted after prolonged use, which is arguably an even more worrying problem.
Samsung phones, however, 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 dimmer than that of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which burned through a sheet of plastic in the same way as the aforementioned Galaxy S25 FE.
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In summary, 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 off when you leave your phone in your pocket or on a surface, and always make sure to dispose of used electronics at your local recycling center – don’t throw them in the trash.
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