How to protect your smartphone from the heat

We all know how it goes: you’re in the Egyptian desert and a camel’s smiling at you, with the pyramids in the background. That’s a moment that needs to be captured! But just as you’re about to do so, your phone overheats and switches off. The magic moment’s gone. And your phone’s stopped working.

I’m joking, of course. But there are, in fact, many other situations in which smartphones get so hot they stop working. For example, if you leave your phone in the car – worse yet, right on the dashboard – it will switch off. The same applies to leaving your phone on an exposed garden table or a south-facing windowsill. In other words, your smartphone will switch off very quickly if it’s in direct sunlight.

This is a safety measure put in place by manufacturers. Why? Because excessive heat can cause irreparable damage to processors, batteries and displays, especially to standard lithium-ion batteries. Heat impairs their chemical stability, which reduces capacity and service life. Worst case, the battery could inflate, leak or even explode, destroying your smartphone with it.

How to keep your phone cool

So what can you do? It’s simple: avoid heat. Smartphones are chock-full of electronics in a compact design. They need your support to stay cool. You’re best off never leaving your phone in the blazing sun in the first place. A good place for it is an insulated bag. If you don’t have one, find a shady spot for your smartphone. If there’s no shade, at least cover it with some fabric, for example, or leave it inside your house if you’re hanging out outside and don’t actually need to have it with you.
At high temperatures, you should also avoid pushing your smartphone to its limits. In other words, playing a demanding game by the pool in 35-degree temperatures is a bad idea. In addition, reducing the screen brightness can help. If you have apps running in the background that require a lot of computing power, close them. Switching to flight mode from time to time can also help, as your phone will use less energy. As a result, it won’t warm up as much. You can also improve cooling by removing your phone case. Or you can show the people at the pool what gadgets are available and get yourself a laptop cooling pad for your smartphone to chill on.

Notebook stands

EUR38,90

Targus Lap Chill Mat

60

Notebook stands

EUR16,77

Conceptronic Cooling Pad 2F

39

Notebook stands

EUR14,90

Conceptronic CNBCOOLSTAND1F

2

Notebook stands

EUR38,90

Targus Lap Chill Mat

60

Notebook stands

EUR16,77

Conceptronic Cooling Pad 2F

39

Notebook stands

EUR14,90

Conceptronic CNBCOOLSTAND1F

2

Don’t put your phone in the fridge

If, despite all precautions, your smartphone gets a heat stroke and switches off, resist the temptation to put it in the fridge or freezer to cool it down. The extreme temperature difference can damage its electronic components. Instead, give your smartphone the time it needs to cool down at room temperature and enjoy some off-screen time.

How do you protect your smartphone from overheating? Share your tips in the comments!