Compare and Recycle
22/11/2018

Myth or Truth: Can Cold Weather "Kill" Your Phone?

It was a frosty morning today and it means winter is here. Weather forecasters are predicting freezing temperatures starting next week dropping to -10°C in some parts of the country.

Last year's cold snap taught us that smartphones don't cope well with temperatures below 0°C and if not being taken care of, phones can run into problems. But how bad the impact can be? Fortunately, UK isn't the place where extreme weather conditions often take place, nevertheless cold weather can be the reason behind many annoying issues.

What we know?

The information provided on Apple's website tells us that a switched on iPhone's operating "comfort zone" is in the range of 0°C and 35°C. Exceeding these temperatures will bring changes to how device operates. While battery capacities are certainly different in phones, the "comfort zone" of modern smartphones is likely to match this gap.

Modern smartphones are powered by Lithium Ion batteries and sub-zero temperatures are causing lower battery efficiency hence sluggish performance. When exposed to freezing cold even for a short period of time, batteries drain dramatically fast and a phone can switch off.

To better understand why this happens, let's quickly jump in the science of how Li-ion batteries work. Ions are moving between positive and negative electrodes to supply charge or discharge. This movement of ions is dependent on temperature and if it gets really cold, ions won't move causing your phone's battery to stop working. Luckily, it doesn't get as cold as -20°C in the UK, so you should not panic about being disconnected.

If you're using your phone outdoors in cold temperature, the touchscreen can become less responsive and causes "ghost" screen affects. This happens because liquid crystals in your displays get cold and fail to respond to your touches.

What Can I Do?

First off all keep yourself and your phone warm. Don't leave it in the car overnight. Social media notifications can wait until you get indoors, so keep your phone in pockets when outside this will help a fair bit. Maybe consider getting a case to wrap your phone in and avoid exposing your phone to temperatures below 0°C if possible.

If it happens that your phone turns off while outdoors, try warming it up by putting it in an inside pocket or return indoors. Don't do anything drastic like placing on a radiator, the phone should restore to normal when put back into a more favourable climate.

Verdict

Most certainly your phone won't get "killed" unless weather forecasts are keeping worse news hidden from us this winter. But it is absolutely possible in colder parts of the world. So take care of yourself, your closest ones and your devices so all of you can survive the winter season.

Antonia

See more posts by Antonia

People looking at old mobile phones

What To Do With Old Mobile Phones?

We’ve got all the do’s and don'ts when it comes to dealing with old phones on your hands. From understanding how you can check the value of your device, how you can figure out whether it has become obsolete and all the reasons why you should not bin it!

3 Min Read
a collage of mobile phones with best cameras pixel 8 pro, iphone 15 pro, oneplus 12

Which Phones Have the Best Cameras?

Take a look at our top five recommendations for smartphones with the best cameras in 2024 - you’ll be snapping quality content in no time!

5 Min Read
an iphone and a samung phone laying on a flat surface

How Do I Transfer Photos From My Old Phone to My New One?

Whether you’re changing from Android to Apple or just upgrading your phone, we’ve put together this guide to help you transfer photos from your old phone to your new one.

3 Min Read