I’ve rocked Samsung Galaxy phones since they made their appearance in the marketplace, and I’ve always protected them with those awesome Otterbox Defender cases. I tend to keep phones a long time and this one’s no exception. My S-8’s over 4 years old, my first with a “non-removeable” battery. I figured the battery would be its weakness but still charges easily and coolly and runs through my longest days with plenty of charge left over so never gave it much thought.

This particular model of Defender case has a weak point. The plastic catch that attaches the case to its holster tends to break. There are two of those attachment points so when one breaks, I tend to call it in for warranty. I use the unbroken side until they send me a new unit, usually just a few days.

The stage set, the pictures show what I found as I un-cased to collect the Defender’s serial number.

The S8 battery had swollen enough that it forced the back of the phone right off! You can see it’s even broken the retainers that hold the Defender’s inner clamshell together.

In case you didn’t know, damaged Li-Ion batteries can be dangerous! They’re inherently unstable to the point that it takes active circuitry – built into the pack – that manages them. Thermal runaways happen. A cute way of saying that they can catch fire or even explode.

I wasted no time in replacing the handset.

What’s next? Part of me just wants it outa here. It’s got no cash value, too old. Throw it into recycling? But it’s a good computer! I may try replacing the battery myself. They’re available. It’s already 90% open – the hardest part, according to the Internet. If that goes well it’ll become a dedicated screen for the drone controller.

While I ponder it’s in a thick-walled ceramic box outside the house, nothing nearby but concrete.