Using iPhone in UK heatwave ‘can shorten battery life FOREVER’, warns Apple
APPLE is warning iPhone owners to make sure their handsets don't get too hot – or risk damaging them forever.
As the blisteringly hot UK weather continues, Apple warns that letting your iPhone temperature rise too high could "permanently shorten battery life".
As a heatwave blasts Britain with some much-needed warmth, Brits should take extra care with their gadgets in the heat.
Extreme temperatures can cause major issues with your smartphones – and Apple's pricey iPhones are no exception.
"Low- or high-temperature conditions might cause the device to change its behaviour," Apple explains.
Cold temperatures can lead to temporary battery life shortening.
But high temperatures can mess up your battery life for good.
";Using an iOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life," an Apple support post reads.
On hot days, it's very easy for an iPhone to exceed its normal operating temperature.
Apple has some specific warnings of things you definitely shouldn't do with your iPhone today:
- Leaving the device in a car on a hot day
- Leaving the device in direct sunlight for an extended period of time
- Using certain features in hot conditions or direct sunlight for an extended period of time, such as GPS tracking or navigation in a car, playing a graphics-intensive game, or using augmented-reality apps
Why does heat damage batteries?
Here's what you need to know...
- Hot temperatures can cause permanent damage to batteries
- That's because batteries contain fluids, and work through chemical reactions
- When heat is applied to a battery, the fluid inside starts to evaporate
- This damages the internal structure of the battery
- Components like the voltage indicator can be affected by heat
- This can allow batteries to charge at too high a rate, which can lead to a loss of electrolytes
- This can reduce battery life over time
- As batteries heat up, chemical reactions inside will also occur faster
- Excessive chemical reactions can reduce long-term battery life
There are ways to reduce your risk, even on very warm days.
For instance, don't put your iPhone in confined places, like under bed covers or in your pocket.
Also, if you feel your phone getting warm, stop using it – or even turn it off.
Avoid using powerful apps for long periods of time. This is particularly important for gamers, because game apps can cause a phone's processor to heat up very quickly.
If your phone gets too hot, it may even turn off automatically, leaving you without a handset.
Phones also heat up quicker if they're using mobile data, rather than on a Wi-Fi connection.
And if you're making a call, that'll boost phone temperature too – especially because your blower will be in your warm hands.
We've all experienced battery life woes, so it's worth doing your best to avoid high phone temperatures, or you risk shortening your iPhone charge forever.
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If you're interested in more Apple advice, check out our guide to texting faster on an iPhone.
We also reveal some of the easy iPhone tricks you probably didn't know about.
And learn about the little-known iPhone feature to find any photo on your phone in seconds.
Are you careful about keeping your iPhone cool? Let us know in the comments!
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