January 7th 2025.
According to experts, even though your phone may not physically shiver in the cold like we do, it can still feel the effects of the frigid temperatures. In fact, doing one simple thing while out and about with your iPhone or Android device can lead to permanent damage.
Imagine this scenario: you're getting ready to leave the house, phone in hand, and you're jamming out to your favorite tunes. It's freezing outside, but your phone's battery is showing a solid 87%. However, as you continue on your journey, you notice that the battery percentage has dropped by 20% in just a matter of minutes. Before you know it, your phone is in the red zone and then suddenly, it turns off completely. Frustrated, you quickly Google the temperature outside and realize that it's much colder than you thought. This is because just like our bodies, our beloved smartphones can also be affected by the cold weather.
We all know that our phones can overheat if left out in the scorching sun during the summer, but the same goes for extreme cold temperatures. Currently, Britain is experiencing a prolonged cold snap with multiple snow and ice warnings in place. Tech expert Richard Dowden, from Uswitch, explains that prolonged exposure to the cold can result in permanent damage to our devices. He stresses that if we feel cold, our phones are feeling it too.
But how exactly does the cold affect our phones? Most phone batteries are made of lithium, which relies on chemical reactions to keep our devices running. In freezing temperatures, these reactions slow down or even stop altogether, causing our phones to think that the battery is dying. According to Apple, iPhones work best between 0ºC and 35ºC, anything lower than that can temporarily shorten battery life and affect the phone's ability to regulate its temperature. In fact, studies have shown that at -30ºC, the damage caused to phone batteries and screens can be irreversible. And if the temperature drops below -40ºC, the phone is essentially rendered useless.
It's interesting to note that scientists are still unsure why lithium-ion batteries don't handle the cold well. On the other hand, if alkaline batteries are left in the cold for too long, they can crack or even explode. However, in most cases, our phones will turn back on once they are brought inside and given some time to recover from their "frostbite."
To prevent our phones from becoming frozen stiff, Richard suggests five things we can do. Firstly, he advises against leaving our phones in the car as this can lead to permanent water damage due to chemical reactions inside the device once we bring it back inside. If we do happen to leave our phone out in the cold for an extended period, Richard recommends allowing it to come back up to room temperature before charging it again.
Furthermore, Richard suggests charging our phones fully before heading out, as battery drain is hard to avoid when the device is booted up in the cold. He also encourages us to keep our phones in a protective case to insulate them from the elements and to keep them in a secure pocket close to our body heat. If possible, it's best to shut down our phones completely when exposed to sub-zero temperatures. But if we need to use our phones, we can conserve battery life by turning on low power mode, turning off location services, and closing down apps running in the background. Putting our phones on Airplane Mode is also a helpful option, as it still allows us to use apps that don't require an internet connection.
Lastly, Richard stresses the importance of backing up our data before heading out in arctic conditions. This will help prevent any loss or damage to the battery life of our phones. So the next time we venture out into the cold with our phones, let's remember these tips to keep our devices functioning properly and avoid any permanent damage.
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