When you own a smartphone, you’re likely warned about avoiding letting it get too hot, as heat is notorious for hurting a phone’s functionality.
Letting your iPhone or Android overheat is never ideal, as heat is a notorious smartphone destroyer, as when their batteries or systems get too hot, they can easily start slowing down and breaking down over time. This is why many smartphones will shut down or send you an alert notification if they get too warm. Another way your phone heats up is through charging, which is why you want to practice good charging habits. Read more about three charging mistakes that can easily cause your phone to overheat and what to do instead below.
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1. Using Your Phone While Charging
When a lot of people are lounging at home, they'll use their phone while it's actively charging and plugged in.
Using your phone while it's charging can make it heat up fast because the battery and processor are working at the same time. Playing games or streaming videos during a charge pushes the phone even harder. Since it's taking in power and using it right away, the heat can build up quickly. Doing this all the time can wear down your battery and make charging less effective.
2. Charging With A Low-Quality Cable
One of the biggest mistakes many iPhone and Android users make is frequently using low-quality, third-party charging cables. While they can be convenient, they can also do some damage to your battery over time, and some can easily cause your phone to overheat.
Using a low-quality or mismatched charger can make your phone heat up more than it should. Cheap cables and adapters don't always give your device the steady power it needs. When the flow of energy is uneven, your phone has to work harder to manage it, which creates extra heat. Over time, this can wear down the battery and make charging slower and less reliable.
3. Charging In Hot Spaces
This might sound obvious, but keeping your phone in a hot, warm space is a quick way to damage it by letting it overheat.
Charging your phone in a hot or cramped spot can make it overheat pretty quickly. When your device is tucked under a pillow or left in direct sunlight, it has no way to cool itself down. The heat from charging mixes with the heat from the environment and builds fast. If this becomes a habit, it can strain the battery and even shorten your phone's overall lifespan.
What To Do Instead
While charging your smartphone might seem pretty simple and straightforward, as you can see, there are several mistakes that, over time, can damage it. Although it's not the end of the world if you make these little charging mistakes every once in a while, it's better to avoid them if possible.
Treat yourself and invest in a high-quality charger that's been reviewed and recommended by tech pros or comes from your smartphone's manufacturer. Not only will you want to have one at home, but it's also a good idea to keep one at work, in your car, or wherever you may frequently plug in your phone.
If you can, leave your phone alone while it charges. Not only will it charge faster, but it won't be as likely to overheat. Additionally, many tech experts advise avoiding leaving your phone plugged in for too long. Charge in a cool, dark place if possible, and your device will be better off!
