We’ve all experienced it before – you’re browsing social media or watching videos on your phone when suddenly it starts getting hot. The back of the device feels almost too hot to hold comfortably. You may even get a warning that your phone needs to cool down before you can use it. This phenomenon of phones overheating is common, but is it actually damaging your device?
In this article, we’ll explore what causes phones to get so hot, whether overheating can hurt your phone, and what you can do if your mobile device starts burning up. With phones being such an integral part of our everyday lives, it’s important to understand proper phone care and know when your device might be at risk of damage from overheating. Read on to get the knowledge you need to keep your phone running safely and smoothly.
What Causes a Phone to Overheat?
There are several common causes of a phone overheating. One of the most frequent reasons is running resource-intensive apps or games [1]. When a phone’s processor has to work hard to run complex apps or render high-resolution graphics in games, it can generate a lot of heat. The processor may be overclocked to achieve maximum performance, but this also increases power consumption and heat output.
Other resource-hogs are streaming video and music at high resolutions, especially over mobile data which drains the battery. The phone has to work overtime to maintain the internet connection, process the streaming content, and render it on the display [2]. This constant intensive workload causes the components to heat up quickly.
Using GPS navigation or augmented reality apps can also tax the hardware and cause overheating. Downloading large files stresses the processor, RAM, and internet connection as well [3]. In general, any app that intensely uses the CPU, GPU, RAM, mobile data, WiFi, Bluetooth or other components can contribute to overheating.
Overheating vs Normal Heat
Most smartphones are designed to operate at normal temperatures between 32°F and 95°F (according to this source). However, the exact safe temperature range can vary between models and manufacturers. For example, Huawei states that phone temperatures normally do not exceed 45°C or 113°F during normal use (source).
In general, modern smartphones utilizing processors like Snapdragon or Exynos are engineered to throttle performance to prevent overheating beyond safe levels. Prolonged exposure above 105°F is considered overheating territory for most phones.
While reaching high temperatures under demanding tasks like gaming or navigation is expected, sustained temps above 113°F can start to impact battery life and performance. Overheating typically occurs when a phone has inadequate cooling, dirty or blocked air vents, or is subjected to extreme external high temperatures.
Potential Damage from Overheating
Overheating can potentially damage several components inside your phone, especially if exposed to high temperatures over an extended period of time. Three main components at risk are the battery, display, and CPU (central processing unit).
Battery
Excessive heat is never good for batteries and can degrade their performance and capacity over time. Lithium-ion batteries, like those in phones, are especially susceptible to heat damage. High temperatures put strain on the battery and accelerate chemical reactions that reduce battery life (source). Prolonged overheating while charging can also damage the battery, causing it to bulge or leak.
Display
The display contains delicate electronic components that can be damaged by high temperatures. OLED displays in particular can develop dead pixels or areas if overheated. High heat can also damage display cables or melt internal adhesives (source). This can lead to issues like screen flickering, discoloration, or unresponsiveness.
CPU
The CPU is designed to withstand high temperatures when operating. However, prolonged overheating can potentially degrade silicon chips and connections over time. Thermal throttling helps prevent immediate CPU failure, but does not completely eliminate long-term overheating risks (source). Severe overheating could cause sudden CPU failure.
Short-Term Effects
When a phone overheats, some common short-term effects include the device feeling hot to the touch, the display dimming, and laggy performance. If your phone starts getting warm during normal use, that’s a sign it’s overheating and needs to cool down.
As the internal components heat up from overuse or exposure to high temperatures, the external case will become hot to the touch. Using a phone that feels uncomfortably warm in your hand is a clear indicator of overheating. The surface temperature can reach upwards of 113°F (45°C) during periods of excessive overheating.
The display may also start to dim or change colors as the screen and backlight struggle to function properly at high temperatures. You may notice the brightness turning down automatically or the display taking on a reddish hue.
Overheating can significantly impact your phone’s performance and responsiveness. Common signs include laggy operation, slow app loading, freezing/crashing apps, and unexpected device shutdowns. The internal processor throttles down speeds to try preventing damage, resulting in sluggish performance.
While uncomfortable to deal with, these short-term effects typically go away once the phone cools back down. However, prolonged or frequent overheating can lead to permanent damage over time.
Long-Term Effects
Over time, overheating can cause permanent damage to your phone that reduces performance and battery life. According to PCMag, excessive heat can degrade the lithium-ion battery, shortening its lifespan. The battery may no longer hold a full charge. Additionally, high temperatures can damage electronic components like the processor and RAM, leading to sluggish performance or app crashes.
Prolonged overheating weakens the soldering that connects the phone’s internal chips and circuitry. As PhoneCheck explains, this can cause disconnected ribbon cables, resulting in various hardware failures. Screens may flicker, cameras can malfunction, speakers may crackle, or buttons may stop working properly. In severe cases, overheated phones may not power on at all due to fried motherboards.
To avoid permanent damage, it’s important to address overheating issues promptly before they take an irreversible toll on your phone’s health. Don’t ignore warning signs like warm phones or laggy performance. Utilize preventive measures like phone cases, avoiding intensive apps, and turning off background processes. Catching problems early can help maximize your phone’s lifespan.
Preventing Overheating
There are several steps you can take to prevent your phone from overheating in the first place:
- Close apps you aren’t using – Having multiple apps open and running in the background can tax your phone’s processor and cause overheating. Make sure to close any apps you aren’t actively using.
- Turn off unused features – Disable Bluetooth, GPS, and other wireless connections when you don’t need them. These put extra load on your phone.
- Use phone cooling accessories – Special phone cases, stands, and clips with cooling fans can help dissipate heat and prevent overheating during prolonged usage.
- Avoid direct sunlight – Don’t leave your phone exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods, such as on the dashboard of a hot car.
- Reduce screen brightness – Turn down your screen’s brightness setting to reduce energy consumption and heat generation.
- Avoid intensive activities – Playing graphics-heavy games or using GPS navigation can quickly cause overheating. Take breaks from these activities.
- Remove protective case – Thick phone cases can trap heat inside. Consider removing case if phone gets too hot.
Taking simple preventative steps like these can go a long way towards stopping your phone from overheating in daily use.
What to Do if Phone Overheats
If your phone begins overheating, there are some steps you can take to cool it down quickly and avoid damage:
- Turn off the phone. Press and hold the power button until the “slide to power off” message appears. This will stop any processes that may be causing overheating.
- Remove any protective case. Cases can trap heat and prevent cooling. Take off the case to help reduce heat buildup.
- Avoid charging. Do not plug in or charge the phone while it’s overheating as this generates additional heat.
- Place on a cool surface. Set the phone down on a table or other surface at room temperature. Do not place it on any cold surfaces.
Allowing the phone to cool down on its own gives the internal components a chance to return to normal temperatures. Check on it periodically, and once it’s cooled down you can turn it back on and resume normal use.
When to Be Concerned
There are certain signs that indicate your phone’s overheating may be dangerous and needs immediate attention. If your phone becomes very hot to the touch and does not cool down even after several minutes without use, that’s a major red flag. Phones are designed to withstand normal spikes in temperature, so consistent overheating likely points to an underlying issue.
Strange behavior like random reboots, apps freezing or crashing, or the phone shutting down unexpectedly can also signal a problem as the heat impacts system resources. These symptoms suggest the phone is having trouble regulating its temperature properly.
According to Avast, you should be especially concerned if the overheating is accompanied by bulging of the battery, hissing or popping sounds, or smoke or flames. In extreme cases like these, high temperatures can damage battery components and pose a safety risk.
The bottom line is that persistent, intense overheating that does not resolve itself relatively quickly is not normal. If your phone remains dangerously hot for an extended period, it likely needs professional repair to avoid long-term damage or more serious problems.
Conclusion
In summary, while some heat is normal for phones during activities like gaming or charging, excessive overheating can damage your device both in the short and long term. To prevent overheating, avoid direct sunlight, don’t multitask excessively, and invest in a phone case with proper ventilation. If your phone does overheat, stop using it and allow it to cool down completely before turning it back on. If the overheating persists, have it checked by the manufacturer, as the battery or internal components may need replacing.
With proper care and maintenance, overheating should not pose a major threat to your phone’s lifespan. Monitor it carefully during intensive activities or hot weather and take action if you notice it getting dangerously hot. Catching and addressing overheating issues promptly can save your phone from permanent damage.