Samsung promises to investigate 'burned up' Galaxy S III

Samsung has promised to investigate claims of a Galaxy S III (GS3) burning up and melting in Ireland.

"There have been recent online posts displaying pictures of a Samsung Galaxy S III that appears to have heat-related damage at the bottom of the device," the company wrote yesterday on its official blog. "Samsung is aware of this issue, and will begin investigating as soon as we receive the specific product in question."

An Ireland-based forum poster yesterday published images on Boards.ie, showing what appears to be a GS3 with burns along the bottom. According to the poster, "dillo2k10", the device was sitting in a "car mount, when suddenly a white flame sparks and a bang came out of the phone". The device, the forum poster said, "burned from the inside out", and melted its case. Interestingly, the phone kept working, but had lost its signal.

"The phone was destroyed, and it slightly burned a piece of plastic on the inside of my car," the person wrote. "And they are refusing to give me a replacement; they had to send it off. Probably nothing I can do, but I'm really annoyed. That could have burned the side of my face or through my pocket and my leg, or set fire to my bed. It's very dangerous."

Samsung's GS3 has quickly become one of the most sought-after iPhone 4S alternatives on the market.

Samsung said today that it will provide more details on the heat issue, once its investigation into the matter is complete, adding that it's taking the issue "seriously".

Via CNET