• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechSamsung

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Reportedly Explodes in Boy’s Hands

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 12, 2016, 10:18 AM ET

A young boy is said to have suffered burns at the hands of Samsung’s recalled Galaxy Note 7.

A 6-year-old boy from Brooklyn, N.Y. suffered burns to his body over the weekend after the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone he was reportedly holding overheated and “exploded” in his hand, the child’s grandmother Linda Lewis toldThe New York Post in an interview on Sunday.

The explosion was so violent that it “set off alarms” in Lewis’ house and forced his family to call 911. He was promptly rushed to the Downstate Medical Center to treat his burns, Lewis said.

The news comes as Samsung is in the midst of a worldwide recall of its Galaxy Note 7. The device, which launched last month to considerable fanfare, has a design problem that could cause it to overheat and for batteries built into the smartphone to explode.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

The Galaxy Note 7’s troubles have become so concerning that Samsung is calling on all owners to return the device. Airlines around the world have similarly asked flyers not to bring the smartphone onboard flights, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said last week it’s working on an official recall for users to return the smartphone. In the meantime, Samsung called on all users to turn the devices off.

Although Samsung hasn’t said exactly how much the recall will cost, the company said that the problem could cost it a “heartbreaking” amount. The company’s shares have since fallen to their lowest level in years after the smartphone’s recall. Analysts have chimed in, saying that the recall could have a lasting impact on Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone brand and could ultimately drive customers to competitors’ brands, like Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone.

“Some said initially the Galaxy Note 7 could be the best smartphone ever, but now it’s possible the phone will go down as the worst ever,” IBK Securities analyst Lee Seung-woo told Reuters on Sunday.

Samsung has launched a program worldwide to collect the estimated 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7s living in the wild. In the U.S., for instance, customers can return their Galaxy Note 7 to carrier or retail stores and get a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, as well as a refund on the price difference between the Note 7 and those devices. Samsung is also offering a “$25 gift card, in-store credit or bill credit from select carrier retail outlets.”

The question, however, is whether Samsung will be able to get customers to trust its brand and devices again. While the company was quick to address the problem, it’s unlikely many will forget the overheating and exploding concerns anytime soon.

In her interview with the Post, Lewis said her grandson, who was watching videos on the device when it exploded, hasn’t forgotten what happened. She said that since he’s come home to the hospital, “he doesn’t want to see or go near any phones,” let alone a Galaxy Note 7.

Lewis added that her family has contacted Samsung about the explosion.

“We take every report very seriously and have contacted the Lewis family to learn more about their situation,” a Samsung spokesperson told Fortune. “As we are currently looking into this case, we are unable to comment further right now.”

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Sarandos
Arts & EntertainmentM&A
It’s a sequel, it’s a remake, it’s a reboot: Lawyers grow wistful for old corporate rumbles as Paramount, Netflix fight for Warner
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 13, 2025
2 minutes ago
Oracle chairman of the board and chief technology officer Larry Ellison delivers a keynote address during the 2019 Oracle OpenWorld on September 16, 2019 in San Francisco, California.
AIOracle
Oracle’s collapsing stock shows the AI boom is running into two hard limits: physics and debt markets
By Eva RoytburgDecember 13, 2025
59 minutes ago
robots
InnovationRobots
‘The question is really just how long it will take’: Over 2,000 gather at Humanoids Summit to meet the robots who may take their jobs someday
By Matt O'Brien and The Associated PressDecember 12, 2025
14 hours ago
Man about to go into police vehicle
CryptoCryptocurrency
Judge tells notorious crypto scammer ‘you have been bitten by the crypto bug’ in handing down 15 year sentence 
By Carlos GarciaDecember 12, 2025
15 hours ago
three men in suits, one gesturing
AIBrainstorm AI
The fastest athletes in the world can botch a baton pass if trust isn’t there—and the same is true of AI, Blackbaud exec says
By Amanda GerutDecember 12, 2025
16 hours ago
Brainstorm AI panel
AIBrainstorm AI
Creative workers won’t be replaced by AI—but their roles will change to become ‘directors’ managing AI agents, executives say
By Beatrice NolanDecember 12, 2025
16 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs are taxes and they were used to finance the federal government until the 1913 income tax. A top economist breaks it down
By Kent JonesDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976—today it’d be worth up to $400 billion
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
20 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
40% of Stanford undergrads receive disability accommodations—but it’s become a college-wide phenomenon as Gen Z try to succeed in the current climate
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
At 18, doctors gave him three hours to live. He played video games from his hospital bed—and now, he’s built a $10 million-a-year video game studio
By Preston ForeDecember 10, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
For the first time since Trump’s tariff rollout, import tax revenue has fallen, threatening his lofty plans to slash the $38 trillion national debt
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 12, 2025
15 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The Fed just ‘Trump-proofed’ itself with a unanimous move to preempt a potential leadership shake-up
By Jason MaDecember 12, 2025
13 hours ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.