Don’t leave your phone in direct sunlight – especially if it’s in its case
It may seem obvious, yet many people still do it: leaving their phone on a towel, a sun lounger or a car dashboard, where just a few minutes of direct sunlight can significantly raise its temperature. Excessive heat may temporarily disable or limit certain smartphone functions, such as charging, reduce the screen brightness or slow down overall performance. The simplest solution is to move the phone into the shade and give it time to cool down. Never put it in a refrigerator or freezer, however, as the sudden temperature change and condensation can do more harm than good. If the handset has already become very hot, it’s also a good idea to remove its case. Although a phone case protects your handset from knocks and bumps, it can also slow heat dissipation in hot weather, making it harder for the phone to cool down.
Things that can make your phone overheat – and might surprise you
When you’re on holiday or out exploring, your smartphone is almost always within reach, which means it often needs charging more frequently. On particularly hot days, it’s worth opting for conventional wired charging. While wireless charging is convenient, it can generate more heat by design, which can make the phone even hotter.
Few people realise that recording long videos – especially in 4K resolution – or taking photos continuously can generate a significant amount of heat. If you’re filming or taking lots of pictures in direct sunlight for an extended period, it’s good to give your phone a few minutes’ rest to cool down and, where possible, move into the shade.
Keeping your mobile internet running smoothly in hot weather
On the hottest summer days, even the fastest mobile data connection can seem slower, but the culprit is often temperature rather than the network itself. When a handset overheats, it may automatically reduce hardware performance, which can slow web browsing and content loading. To maintain a fast and reliable mobile data connection, a few simple precautions can make a big difference. If you’re using your phone outdoors, avoid direct sunlight and protect your phone from excessive heat. It’s also a good idea to schedule online gaming or large file downloads for the cooler hours of the day, ideally while you’re indoors. This helps prevent the processor from overheating, ensuring your smartphone continues to perform at its best and delivers a smooth internet experience.
While you’re enjoying your holiday, don’t forget about staying safe online. Whenever possible, use your own mobile data connection or a trusted, password-protected Wi-Fi network instead of public Wi-Fi. Even free Wi-Fi networks that appear legitimate may have been set up to obtain users’ personal information. In these situations, having a reliable mobile connection is especially important, as is ensuring your smartphone doesn’t overheat.
How AI features can put your smartphone under strain
On-device AI is now a standard feature on the latest smartphones, enabling machine learning-powered tools such as AI photo editing and real-time translation. As these features rely on the handset’s processor and graphics unit, using on-device AI tools – such as AI-powered photo editing or offline assistants – can generate additional heat on hot summer days. To help prevent overheating, it’s best to limit their use during the hottest part of the day.
Keep your summer memories safe
These days, most of your summer memories are stored on your smartphone, which makes it all the more important to protect your handset as well. An unexpected malfunction can quickly disrupt your holiday – whether caused by extreme heat, accidental water damage or a cracked screen. That’s why it’s worth taking out smartphone insurance for added peace of mind. At Yettel, handset insurance is available for both new and refurbished smartphones. Customers can choose from a range of insurance plans, making it easy to find the cover that best suits their needs.
One simple setting can save you a lot of hassle
Before travelling, it’s worth updating your apps at home while using a reliable internet connection. This reduces the chance of your phone starting to downloads large software or app updates at the worst possible moment – for example, when you’re trying to navigate or start a video call. What’s more, automatic updates may take even longer during periods of record-breaking heat. It’s worth disabling automatic background updates for apps you rarely use, as this helps reduce data usage, battery consumption and the overall load on your phone.