Only TikTokers could discover that the camera flash on Samsung Galaxy phones is powerful enough to melt through plastic.

A viral video from @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 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 lines could repeat the same trick (we don’t, however, recommend that you try repeating it at home).

“This is why museums don’t allow flash, folks,” reads one 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 ‘issue’ is clear: the best Samsung phones feature incredibly powerful LEDs, and light carries energy that produces heat when absorbed by matter like 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 they slide up the brightness — that “the camera light may cause low temperature burns when in prolonged contact with the skin. Avoid leaving the Flashlight turned on for an extended period.”

It’s clear, then, that the company is relying 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, in the same way that you shouldn’t — surprise! — swallow your phone whole or bash it against your head (again, please don’t try either of those things at home). We’re not talking about Samsung Galaxy Note 7 levels of fire risk here.

Still, as Lee Elliott, Chief Product Officer at phone recycling website Compare and Recycle, tells TechRadar, the risks posed by strong LED lights in smartphones should continue to be acknowledged: “Although devices do show a warning when the torch [flashlight] is on the highest brightness, we all know how easy it is to forget to turn things on our devices off — or toggle them on accidentally.

“This means problems could 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 by mistake could lead to damage or melting.

“If left for a prolonged period of time, this could potentially become a fire risk. So, it’s a good reminder to check your flash isn’t left on unintentionally, avoid covering the light source for long periods, and to manually reduce the torch brightness below the warning level when you’re using it.”

Samsung is also not alone in shipping extra-strong LED flash modules. Last month, several Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro XL users complained that the flashlight modules on their phones had burned or melted after extended use, which is arguably an even more worrying issue.

Samsung phones do, however, appear 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 sheet in a similar manner to the aforementioned Galaxy S25 FE.

In summary, then, if you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, you should exercise caution when using your device’s flashlight at full force. Check that the flash is turned off when leaving your phone in your pocket or on a surface, and always ensure that you dispose of used electronics at your local recycling center — don’t just chuck them in the trash. And definitely don't chuck them in the trash with any sort of flashlight enabled. We know how that one ends.

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Axel is TechRadar's Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.

Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.