The internet has found a new way to make your phone look guilty. Press its flashlight against a black trash bag, wait for the plastic to melt, and post the result like Samsung just shipped a pocket-sized laser cutter. Viral videos showing Samsung phones burning through plastic bags are doing the rounds again, and the latest wave is making the issue look far more dramatic than it is.
A TikTok clip showing a Galaxy S25 FE flashlight burning through a thin black garbage bag has reportedly crossed 13 million views, but the stunt is hardly a new discovery. Similar clips have been posted for over a year, and the current spike appears to be another case of social media algorithms dragging an old phone trick back into the spotlight.
A Scene Nobody Encounters In Real Life
The videos usually follow the same setup. A phone’s flashlight is set to maximum brightness, pressed close to a black plastic bag, and left there long enough for heat to build. The plastic then warps, melts, or develops a small hole. It looks alarming on camera, but it is also a highly staged condition most people would not naturally recreate.
Not a Samsung-only problem
Tom’s Guide tested the claim using a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and a Google Pixel 10 Pro, which proved that this isn’t exclusive to just Samsung phones. The Galaxy S26 Ultra melted the plastic faster, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max also burned through the bag. The Pixel 10 Pro showed a smaller effect and took longer to do so.
The outlet also found that the type of bag mattered, with black plastic reacting while white bags were unaffected because they reflected more light. Samsung phones already warn users before cranking the flashlight to its highest setting. At maximum brightness, the beam generates heat when pressed against a confined surface.
A Viral Trick, Not A Real World Warning
Do not leave a phone flashlight pressed against plastic, fabric, or synthetic material for long. A torch accidentally left on inside a pocket or bag is a more practical concern than the dramatic garbage-bag stunt spreading online.
The videos are real in the narrowest sense, but the framing is exaggerated. They take a carefully arranged edge case and sell it as a normal phone hazard. Needless to say, the overall impression ends up being misleading.
