While traveling in your vehicle during summer months, refrain from utilizing a mobile device for GPS navigation.
Protecting Your Smartphone from Heat Damage
As summer approaches, it's essential to take care of your smartphone to ensure it remains in good working condition. Many manufacturers recommend an ideal temperature of 20 degrees for smartphones, but temperatures can quickly rise, especially in cars.
In the worst-case scenario, heat can lead to a short circuit or even an "internal battery fire." Such incidents can cause further damage, or even a fire or explosion. To prevent this, TÜV Rheinland warns of potential damage to the solder points in the battery due to heat.
High temperatures negatively affect both a smartphone's battery and display. They accelerate battery degradation, reduce battery lifespan, and increase risks like lithium plating or thermal runaway (a dangerous overheating condition). Smartphones are generally designed to operate safely up to about 35°C, but lithium-ion batteries can tolerate up to ~60°C temporarily. Beyond these limits, irreversible battery damage occurs.
Excessive heat triggers warnings and causes phones to throttle (reduce performance) or disable some functions to manage the temperature. High temperatures can also cause the screen to dim or malfunction temporarily.
To protect smartphones in hot weather, users should take precautions such as avoiding direct sunlight, reducing screen brightness, not using intensive apps while charging, and removing thick cases that trap heat.
Specifically, keep the phone out of direct sunlight and avoid leaving it in hot environments like inside cars on sunny days. Lower screen brightness and enable power-saving modes to reduce energy use and heat generation. Avoid using heavy apps (gaming, streaming) especially while charging, since charging generates heat and combined loads exacerbate temperature rises. Use thinner or lighter phone cases, or remove the case to allow better heat dissipation. Charge the phone on a hard, flat surface rather than soft materials that trap heat, and use only manufacturer-approved chargers.
For technical devices, it becomes critical at 35 degrees. In high temperatures, smartphones are best kept in the glove compartment. It's also advisable to avoid charging overnight or fully discharging the battery, and if storing the device long-term, keep it in a cool place at about 50% charge to prevent battery damage.
By following these guidelines, users can reduce overheating risks and extend the battery life and overall durability of their smartphones in hot weather conditions.
To safeguard your smartphone from potential heat damage and ensure optimal functioning, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or hot environments. This includes not leaving your device inside cars on sunny days. Additionally, to maintain the health of your gadgets, use thinner or lighter smartphone cases, reduce screen brightness, and avoid using intensive apps like gaming or streaming while charging to minimize heat generation.
