Overheating is a common issue for smartphones and other electronic devices. High temperatures can cause performance problems, system crashes, and even permanent damage if the phone gets too hot. But how hot is too hot, and at what point does heat become destructive to your phone?
How hot do phones get?
Most smartphones and tablets are designed to operate at normal temperatures between 32°F to 95°F (0°C to 35°C). However, it’s not uncommon for phones to heat up much more than that during everyday use or in hot environments.
Activities like gaming, streaming videos, or using GPS can cause processor usage to spike, resulting in internal temperatures of 104°F (40°C) or higher. Leaving your phone in direct sunlight or a hot car can push temperatures even higher, exceeding 113°F (45°C) in some cases.
So while phones are built to withstand occasional spikes in temperature, excessively high heat can start to cause problems.
At what temperature can overheating damage a phone?
There is no single temperature threshold where overheating instantly damages a phone. However, excessive heat over time can reduce the lifespan of a phone and its components.
Here are some temperature guidelines to keep in mind:
- 122°F (50°C) – Prolonged exposure to this temperature or higher starts to pose a risk of damage to the battery and other internals.
- 140°F (60°C) – Extended exposure can warp phone casings, melt adhesives, and cause permanent damage to the battery.
- 158°F (70°C) – At this point, immediate damage is likely. Plastic components can deform, the display can become faulty, and chips can be irreparably damaged.
Note that these temperatures refer to the internals of the phone, not necessarily the external temperature you can feel. A phone left long enough in a hot car can reach these critical thresholds even if it doesn’t seem that hot to the touch.
What phone components are vulnerable to heat damage?
Some main components susceptible to heat damage include:
- Battery – High temperatures accelerate battery degradation and can lead to thermal runaway where the battery self-destructs.
- Display – The LCD display contains liquid crystals that can start to melt at high temperatures.
- Processor – Excessive heat buildup can affect transistors and interconnects in the processor.
- Camera – Image sensors and lenses can be damaged from thermal expansion at high temperatures.
Other vulnerable components include the phone’s antennas, speakers, microphones, and adhesives that hold everything together. With so many heat-sensitive parts packed closely together inside a phone, it’s important to keep temperatures in check.
What are the signs of overheating damage?
Watch for these clues that your phone may be suffering heat-related damage:
- Random shutdowns, freezes, or reboots
- Blurry or distorted display
- Discoloration on the screen
- Reduced wireless signal strength
- Splitting or swollen battery case
- Separation of phone casing or panels
- Sudden shutdowns before the battery is depleted
The extent of damage depends on how long and how hot the phone became. For mild overheating, the effects may be reversible if you give the phone a chance to cool down. But severe or prolonged overheating can lead to irreparable damage.
How can I prevent overheating damage?
Use the following precautions to keep your phone running cooler:
- Avoid leaving your phone in direct sun or hot vehicles.
- Don’t use chargers that get excessively hot.
- Switch off GPS, Bluetooth, and mobile data when not needed.
- Close processor-intensive apps when not in use.
- Avoid heavy phone use in hot environments.
- Don’t completely cover the phone when in use.
- Keep the battery between 30-80% charge when storing for extended periods.
Phones have built-in protections against overheating as well. If your phone is getting too hot, it may automatically reduce screen brightness, throttle the processor, shut down apps, or even turn off entirely until temperatures come down to safer levels.
What should I do if my phone overheats?
If you notice your phone getting excessively hot during use, follow these tips:
- Turn off the phone immediately if possible. This stops it generating additional heat.
- Remove protective cases, which can trap heat.
- Don’t try charging the phone, as this adds more heat.
- Move the phone to a cooler area out of direct sun.
- Point a fan at the phone to improve air circulation.
- Wait for the phone to fully cool before turning it back on.
- If overheating persists, have the phone serviced in case repairs are needed.
Can you fix an overheated phone?
If your phone experienced mild or moderate overheating, stopping use and allowing it to cool may resolve issues with no permanent damage. Any problems should disappear once internal temperature is normalized.
But for severe or prolonged overheating, physical damage is likely. Repairs may be needed for:
- Replacing the battery
- Screen, camera, or chipset repairs
- Re-soldering loose components
- Replacing melted casing or adhesives
Water damage is also a risk if components like the battery begin to rupture and leak. There’s no DIY fix for serious overheating issues – you’ll need to take it to a phone repair shop.
Can overheating issues be prevented on future phones?
Manufacturers keep making improvements in phone design to dissipate heat more effectively. Here are some methods used:
- Processors: Chips are designed to throttle speed rather than overheat.
- Batteries: Newer materials like graphene increase stability at high temperatures.
- Materials: Heat-spreading copper plates and graphite sheets pull heat away from components.
- Air flow: Careful device design helps direct airflow and ventilation.
- Thermal interface material: Compounds like gelid GC-Extreme improve transfer of heat away from the chip.
Phones also have temperature sensors to monitor heat buildup and make adjustments before components get damaged. Limiting heat generation through software and throttling processor speed when too hot can help extend a phone’s life.
Software fixes and updates
Phone software also plays a role in heat management. Here are some ways software improvements help:
- Optimizing software for efficiency reduces processor workload.
- Updates allow the OS to manage resources better as new chips are released.
- Fixing software bugs prevents crashes and instability that raise temperatures.
- Apps can be designed to suspend background tasks instead of continuous processing.
Updating to the latest OS version and software patches helps maximize performance and stability, while minimizing overheating risk. Apps should also be kept updated to their latest versions.
Outlook for future phones
With sustained focus on thermal management from manufacturers, newer generations of phones will push the limits of overheating even further. Here are some innovations expected in the future:
- Improved processors like ARM’s Kryo CPU with a “Prime Core” designed to handle intense gaming without overheating.
- Gallium nitride (GaN) chargers that run cooler than traditional silicon chargers.
- Phase change materials like paraffin wax that can absorb heat as they melt.
- Vapor chambers using evaporation and condensation for more efficient heat pipes.
- Thermoelectric generators that convert heat to extra power instead of wasting it.
Advanced materials like graphene, aerogels, and carbon nanotubes offer light and highly conductive possibilities for heat dissipation in next-gen devices. Artificial intelligence is also being applied to optimally balance performance and heat.
While overheating may never be completely eliminated, technological improvements will continue pushing acceptable operating temperatures for phones ever higher.
Conclusion
Overheating can definitely damage phones, but manufacturers are making progress in protecting devices from excess temperatures. Keeping your phone cool remains important though – try to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or confined spaces with poor ventilation. If your phone does overheat, shut it off and move it somewhere cooler right away. With proper precautions and improvements in technology, you can help your phone lead a long and healthy life.