In our FAQ we provide you with useful tips so that your smartphone can survive the heat of the coming days.
In the coming days it will be hot in Germany, temperatures of up to 40 degrees are imminent. The heat not only affects us humans, but also our electronic devices. Smartphones in particular should not be exposed to excessive temperatures, otherwise there is a risk of damage. In our FAQ you can read how you can protect your mobile phone from overheating and what to do if it has gotten too hot.
Why aren’t high temperatures good for cell phones?
High temperatures are not good for the battery in particular. You don’t need to be afraid that an intact battery will explode immediately if it overheats, but above 30 or 35 degrees in most cases they are more heavily loaded, since chemical reactions of the liquid electrolytes in the lithium-ion battery occur. The result: the aging of the battery is accelerated and charging is slowed down.
High temperatures can also lead to loss of performance. Depending on the smartphone, the processor no longer achieves its full performance or the display brightness is reduced. However, there are also models in which the camera functions are restricted if the temperatures are too high.
What should I watch out for so that my cell phone doesn’t get too hot at high temperatures?
- Do not put your phone in direct sunlight, keep it in the shade or in your pocket.
- Don’t leave your smartphone in the car when it’s hot, as the temperatures there rise many times over. Cars can heat up to 50 to 60 degrees in summer – but mobile phones only feel comfortable up to a temperature of 35 degrees.
- Since the processor is already under stress at high temperatures, you should refrain from playing mobile games and watching long videos in high temperatures.
- Remove thick mobile phone covers – eg made of silicone – as these prevent air cooling and can cause heat build-up.
- To protect the battery, you should switch on the power saving or flight mode when the outside temperature is high – or give your cell phone a break and switch it off completely in between. Also, refrain from using the device while it is charging. Simultaneous charging and discharging puts additional strain on the battery.
If your cell phone gets unusually hot despite these measures, there may be other reasons. In this article we will tell you what to do if your phone gets abnormally hot.
How do I know if my cell phone is overheating?
Modern mobile phones usually issue a warning message in the event of acute overheating and even switch themselves off to protect the hardware. Other warning signs can be:
- The mobile phone only charges slowly or not at all.
- The cell phone no longer runs smoothly, it jerks and is slower than usual.
- The mobile phone display remains permanently dark.
What can I do if the mobile phone has become too hot?
If your cell phone has issued a warning message or you have determined overheating based on other signals, you should first switch off the device. Because if it stays on and processes continue to run, additional heat is generated.
In addition, you should of course take the cell phone out of the blazing sun and put it in a cool place. But beware: Do not put your overheated device in the fridge! Excessive, sudden temperature differences can also damage the hardware.
You should also refrain from charging the overheated device, as this process also generates heat and counteracts rapid cooling.
Can data be lost if the cell phone gets too hot?
Even if your cell phone overheats, there is no risk of data loss. Of course, it is possible that you are typing a note or message and the smartphone switches off at that very moment due to excessive temperatures. The text is then most likely gone – but already saved data is protected.
How does heat affect 5G smartphones?
A Wall Street Journal test has shown that 5G smartphones have a heat problem. From temperatures of 28 degrees, the devices quickly overheated and switched off the 5G function. For example, with an outside temperature of 32 degrees, only two 5G downloads were possible before 5G stopped working. Without additional cooling, the function could only be used again after several hours. Since 5G transfers data in higher volumes and at a higher speed, the processors are put under more strain – the result: the device heats up faster. In combination with high outside temperatures, the smartphone then overheats.
