A three-year-old boy was injured after his smartphone suddenly exploded and caught fire while he was watching videos at home on Sunday.
According to the family, the child suffered burns on his left hand and legs. Medical records indicated some areas of burned skin, blistering, and peeling of dead skin.
The smartphone involved was a model released in December 2022 and had been used normally for over a year without any modifications or repairs. At the time of the incident, the device was not being charged. The child reportedly jumped on the sofa when the phone suddenly exploded and caught fire, which also caused damage to the sofa as he tried to push the burning device away.
The family contacted the smartphone company, which said the remains of the phone need to be sent to their Research & Development (R&D) center to determine the cause of the explosion. As of Monday (September 8), the family had not yet received any samples for testing.
The company’s customer service noted that such incidents are extremely rare. They added that potential causes could include battery quality, circuit design, external impact, or high temperatures, but only professional testing can confirm the exact reason.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video of the explosion was shared on Douyin and went viral on Weibo last Tuesday. Some users of the same phone model expressed concern, while others suggested it may be an isolated case.
Under China’s Product Quality Law, manufacturers are responsible if defective products cause injuries.
