Modern smartphones are designed to operate failure-free even in more extreme weather conditions. However, this does not mean that their performance is the same at both very low and very high temperatures.
For example, Apple recommends using iPhones in places where the temperature is between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius. Manufacturers of Android smartphones also warn against using mobile devices in the cold. Reason? Low temperatures significantly reduce the performance of lithium-ion batteries in this equipment.
The battery in your smartphone cannot stand frost
As Andrzej Pająk from the “Crazy Nauka” website explains, when our smartphone is turned on, a chemical reaction called redox (reduction-oxidation) takes place inside its battery.
The electrons released as a result of this reaction will accumulate on the negative electrode – the anode. As a result of connecting the two poles of the battery – of course through the receiver – a potential difference is created. Thanks to it, electric current flows through the electronic circuits of the device, and then the electrons return to the surface of the positive electrode, i.e. the cathode, because there it is easier for the electrons to combine with the cations into which the electrolyte has broken down.
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However, the problem occurs when the ambient temperature drops. Just as we get a little sleepier when it’s cold outside, the lithium-ion batteries in our smartphones also get sleepier. At low temperatures, the rate of chemical reactions decreases, which reduces the efficiency of the cell.
How much? Research by Asma Mohamad Aris, Bahman Shabani from RMIT University in Melbourne, cited by “Crazy Nauka”, shows that at a temperature of -15 degrees Celsius, the efficiency of a lithium-ion battery can drop from 100 percent. up to 77 percent capacity.
. His calculations show that a battery that has 100 percent capacity at a temperature of 27 degrees C has only 50 percent capacity at -18 degrees C.
It is worth remembering that very low temperatures may also lead to shrinkage of the materials used in the battery, which may result not only in loss of capacity, but even damage to the battery.
Problems with smartphones in winter are not only related to batteries. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) also perform worse in frost. At low temperatures, the liquid inside them begins to freeze, as a result, the screen’s response time slows down, which causes it to streak.
Sensors in the device may also function worse – e.g. gyroscope. The performance of the smartphone itself also decreases in the cold. It is true that processors (including mobile ones) like lower temperatures (that’s why we cool them), but not as low as those prevailing in the winter months.
How to take care of your smartphone battery in winter?
If we want to ensure that our smartphone works trouble-free in winter, it is worth following a few very simple rules:
1) Keep your device in the inside pocket of your jacket, as close to your body as possible – in this way, even in severe frost, it should be possible to maintain a sufficiently high temperature of the smartphone and battery.
2) Never leave your smartphone in the cold – e.g. in a car glove compartment or garage.
3) Use a headset – thanks to this, you will be much less likely to take your phone out of your pocket.
4) Use a case – the case made of thick material will also help maintain the temperature of the smartphone. In stores you can even find special insulating cases that will protect the device against extreme temperatures.
5) Carry a power bank with you – forewarned is forearmed. Both in winter and summer, it is worth carrying a powerbank in your bag or backpack, which will allow you to recharge your device in an emergency. Just remember to regularly check whether our powerbank is charged.
Finally, one important note, if your smartphone has completely turned off in the cold, do not panic. It is very likely that an internal mechanism that protects the device against extreme temperatures simply worked here. In such a situation, it is best to take the device home and let it warm up a bit at room temperature.
However, under no circumstances should you speed up this process – e.g. by placing your smartphone on a radiator or using a dryer. This may cause condensation to occur inside the device, which may result in damage to its components.
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
