February 3, 2022 at 5:21 p.m.
- All lithium-ion powered devices function best at optimal temperatures.
- Cold temperatures cause atoms to slow down, which is the root cause of smartphone failure in frigid weather.
- Keeping your iPhone warm may extend its operating time in cold temperatures.
- If your iPhone becomes very cold, special care should be taken before turning it on to avoid damage.
- Some iPhone cases, such as those constructed out of neoprene, provide limited insulation for cold climates.
It’s been a cold winter for many people across the globe. Extreme weather seems to be the new normal. Unfortunately, electronic gadgets, particularly those powered by lithium-ion batteries, are not suited for temperature extremes. The iPhone is no exception. According to Apple, the iPhone 13 series, along with most Apple devices, operate best at temperatures between 0° to 35° C. These devices are more robust when turned off and can withstand temperatures from -20° to 45° C.
Those living in cold climates may be familiar with this situation. If one takes out an iPhone on a cold day, the battery life diminishes quickly. Within a few minutes, the battery can lose enough power to shut down the device. It’s not actually discharging. Instead, the lithium-ion battery simply cannot function at extremely cold temperatures. The lithium ions slow down under cold temperatures, diminishing the flow of electricity.
This is not a flaw with Apple products. This happens to any lithium-ion battery-powered device. There are a few things you can do to keep your iPhone working and protect it from permanent damage.
Turn Off Your iPhone
If you are walking (or riding your snowmobile) outside and don’t need your iPhone, turn it off. As mentioned previously, when turned off, the iPhone can withstand a much greater temperature range. Make sure to turn it off, and not just put it to sleep.
How you shut off your iPhone depends on which model you own. Newer iPhones, such as the 13 Pro Max, present the shutdown switch when users press the lower volume and side buttons simultaneously. This applies to all models with a notch. Models such as the iPhone SE (first and second-generation), iPhone 7, and 8 only require the user to press and hold the side button. You can also tap on Settings > General > Shut Down to display the “slide to power off” switch.
When you return to a warmer environment, don’t turn on your iPhone right away. This is true of every electronic device, and also some forms of media, such as video and audio cassettes. Turning on a cold device can warm it quickly. The rapid change in temperature can expand components too quickly, causing damage. Furthermore, your device is at risk for condensation to form. Any moisture inside the device can cause electronic components to fail. Simply wait for your device to come up to room temperature. With the new, metal-encased iPhones, this should happen within a few minutes. Just make sure it doesn’t feel cold to the touch.
Keep Your iPhone Warm
If it’s cold outside, chances are you are wearing warm clothing. You may have a thick, down-filled parka. If so, put the iPhone in an inside pocket. Between your body heat and the jacket’s insulation, your phone should remain within operational temperatures. If you can’t do that, try to put the device as close to your body as possible.
Of course, this limits the use of your iPhone. The buttons on Apple’s headphones actually allow users to control some iPhone functions. For example, one can invoke Siri simply by pressing and holding the center button on the headphones. I wouldn’t advise taking the phone out and returning it to its warm location repeatedly. It will present the same problem of expansion, contraction and condensation.
There are some cases that may provide adequate insulation for your iPhone. Neoprene seems like a good option. It is inexpensive and is the same material used in wet suits. You could probably even make one out of a mouse pad, since most are constructed from neoprene. Neoprene is also a great shock absorber. For those with the financial resources, a new, high-tech thermal protection case is coming soon…
Use a Cold Weather iPhone Case
Don’t Leave Your iPhone in the Car
Given the operational and non-operational temperature range for the iPhone, it makes sense not to leave it in a cold car. If you do, at least make sure to turn it off and wait until it warms up before turning it on again. The most sensible thing is to take it with you. It may be colder outside your automobile, but if your iPhone is tucked in a warm pocket, it will fare better.
Keep a Car Charger for Emergencies
Given the iPhone’s vulnerability to cold weather, one must be prepared for emergencies. If you get stuck in the snow, a cold iPhone that doesn’t work can be a life-threatening situation. Even though the battery may not perform well, you will probably get some power if you plug it into a charger. Make sure to keep a car-compatible iPhone charger in your automobile at all times. Some of these can plug in to the cigarette lighter. Most modern cars have a standard electric or USB outlet, so you can use just about any charger.
Ideally, you should use the charger provided by Apple. Rapid charging with too much current can damage the battery from overheating. Even if you are in a cold environment, a rapid charger could exacerbate the temperature extremes, causing damage to your device.
Use an Old iPhone
Prior to the iPhone 5, Apple’s iconic devices were sandwiched between two sheets of glass. Glass is an insulator. Given this insulating property, the iPhone 4 and 4S should operate better under cold conditions.
Officially, Apple recommends the same temperatures for these older, glass-sandwiched iPhones. The laws of physics would seem to indicate they will perform better in cold weather, due to the insulation. Of course, if the device is left in the cold for a long time, it won’t matter. However, if you take it out of your pocket to use briefly, it should remain operational longer.
Being an old iPhone, you might not get too upset if the temperature extremes ruin the device. I wouldn’t go out and buy an old iPhone for this purpose. You may want to keep your old iPhone 4 or 4S to use outdoors in the winter. Many carriers will allow you to keep your old device activated for free.
Buy a New iPhone
Apple revisited the glass sandwich design from the iPhone 4 lineup. Starting with iPhone 8, Apple re-introduced the fragile-but-thermally-stable glass back design. All new iPhones, including the latest iPhone 13 lineup, feature a glass “sandwich” design. Since glass is an insulator and metal dissipates heat, the “new” configuration should fare better in cold climates.
Keep in mind that the newer glass-backed iPhones are much more fragile than their metal counterparts. In fact, with the latest iPhones, the screen is far more durable than the glass back. Using Corning’s new Ceramic Shield technology, Apple finally solved the problem of cracked screens. However, the company constructed the back of the device with much less durable material. If you happen to drop your glass-backed iPhone on a hard surface and the back shatters, repairs cost upwards of $400 because the entire back unit, including the camera module, must be replaced.
Needless to say, putting your iPhone in a case or protecting the back with a “screen” protector is a smart move. I opted for the latter option, purchasing a tempered glass overlay to protect the back glass on my iPhone 13 Max Pro. If you’re a klutz, it’s probably best to go for a protective case.
Use the Apple Watch to Access iPhone Functionality
The Apple Watch may function better in cold weather. The device’s operating temperature range is the same as the iPhone — 32º F to 95º F (0º C to 35º C). Certain aspects of the Apple Watch may enable it to fare better in cold weather. Since the Apple Watch is worn on your wrist, heat from your body will keep it from getting too cold. If you wear it under a heavy coat and expose it only for quick glances, it should operate in cold weather.
Its material design may also keep the Apple Watch from getting too cold. The front of the device is sapphire glass, which acts as an insulator. The back is either a composite or ceramic material (depending on model) and metal. Body heat should keep the device warm enough to use, even in cold weather. A metal-backed Apple Watch will fare better in cold weather, as body heat transfers through the material.
Buy a Samsung Phone With an Exynos Processor
Samsung smartphones feature one of two brands of processors — Qualcomm or Samsung’s own Exynos chip. The best and fastest Samsung devices use Qualcomm processors. Since the company can’t get enough Qualcomm processors, it puts its own Exynos chips in some of the same models at a lower price.
Exynos processors are decent chips, but they tend to have thermal issues. This is actually a blessing in cold weather. A Samsung S20 with an Exynos processor will fare much better in cold weather than the same phone equipped with a Qualcomm processor. Models with Exynos processors are typically a few hundred dollars cheaper too.
If you’re constantly in cold weather and need to use a smartphone, an Exynos-equipped Samsung phone should work well. In warm weather, the processor simply slows down to stay cool, so you can still use your device.
Hi, my iPhone 11 pro max died yesterday because of cold weather and is still not working until this moment. I had to walk for 11 km on a cold winter day with bad clothes just to get home because I couldn’t get a cab, IDK what to do I am really upset, the fact of my iPhone still not working even though it is in a room temperature makes me so irritated, I need your help.
It’s possible that condensation may have damaged the phone. Apple products aren’t as well-made as they used to be. The last two Macs I purchased broke within six to eighteen months of usage. One of them had a complete power failure. It could no longer charge its battery, because the components broke.
My hunch is that either condensation or contraction/expansion damaged your phone. If it’s still under warranty, try to have it serviced ASAP. One thing — Apple installs water damage indicators in their phones. If condensation damaged your phone, they may claim that it’s water damage and even accuse you of spilling something on it (even though it’s supposed to be water resistant). Maybe they’ll say you went scuba diving with your phone. This may void the warranty…
When I brought my MacBook Pro in for service, it was barely used. I used an external keyboard/trackpad and it was on a stand, covered when not in use. I maybe touched the computer ten times in eighteen months of ownership. It was in mint condition. The Apple Store fudged this, and said it showed signs of wear. Take a photo of your phone before you send it in.
I also purchased an iMac and its Fusion drive failed within six months, on a computer that was barely used. I brought it into the Apple Store, and they “fixed” it. It only had 28GB of storage space after they “fixed” it. I filed a complaint with the California State Attorney General’s office, and Apple’s legal representation lied. They said I denied service. No. I took it in, they were unable to properly fix their own computer, and that’s it. It’s a remarkable amount of work to bring it in for service, and they expect me to bring it in again. They violated the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act, requiring an exceptional level of duty from the customer to have their device fixed. They lied to the California State Attorney General’s office.
Apple’s head of global security was recently arrested and charged with bribing the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. They gave the law enforcement agency hundreds of free iPads in exchange for concealed carry gun permits for Apple employees. It’s highly likely that Apple bribes reviewers and the media to keep the glowing reviews of Apple products flowing… How else can Consumer Reports claim MacBooks are 5/5 in reliability? A piece of dust renders the keyboard useless on an entire generation of MacBooks. MacBooks break if you look at them funny… They’re the most fragile computers on the planet. Don’t be fooled by the nice, “aluminium” case.
The newest and best iPhone has a weak battery, mediocre camera and uses obsolete screen technology. Flagship Android phones are much better.
This is why I now use a Windows laptop (LG Gram 15) and an Android phone (OnePlus 8 Pro). The Apple ecosystem is a dystopia. I don’t regret ditching Apple. I have an iPad so I can look into the Apple ecosystem and write content for this site.
Absolutely ridiculous, I have an SE that loses power within 3-4 hours in the cold, I keep it in a trouser pocket, but still to no avail, yet my work Samsung in the other pocket somehow manages to keep going all day and still has plenty of power! I do like my iPhone having had them for 10 years plus, but am now seriously thinking of changing to Samsung…cmon apple sort yourselves out!!
Yes, but make sure to get a Samsung with an Exynos processor. It’s known to have thermal issues that coincidentally warm the unit, keeping it functional in cold weather.
I don’t expect Apple to add a heating element or thermally-inefficient processor to the iPhone.
I switched from an iPhone to a Samsung and then a OnePlus. The latter is the best phone I have ever used. Samsung was good, but too much bloatware. Also, its autofocus was completely unable to work in so many situations.
Ha Ha sure buddy, using a OnePlus 8 Pro and trying to defend Apple products. Calling me a BS artist and doubting if I even have an iPhone. Sure. I can confirm you’re the only REAL BS artist here. I don’t think you know anything about lithium ion batteries or their functionality. If you say that Samsung does not use lithium ion batteries, you are bullshitting to the next level my friend.
Lol you’re saying Exynos processor uses a thermal heating element? So you did not think why Apple would not try to adapt to that? A basic heating element that a company like Apple’s A9 or A 14 cant adapt to. Applaud. Like bruh. At least talk some sense when you’re giving a long a– speech about how to protect an overpriced product.
Btw solar panels perform well if they are manufactured with good quality material. Our solar panels in Sweden are manufactured here with the best of quality. America orders it from China, so yeah I hope you know what you’re trying to compare it to my friend.
Anyway man, here’s a website that tested different phones and surprise its the iphones that die first and samsung that lasted the longest
https://www.itbusiness.ca/news/sub-zero-smartphones-which-devices-can-bear-the-cold-infographic/16913
And without further bs coming straight to the point- I would be interested to know exactly the reason for iPhone’s poor battery performance in cold or in any weather condition tbh. It degrades faster than other smartphones even when its maintained in the best environmental conditions. Dude I have a MI that performs better than iPhone in the cold. My grandma has been using it for 4 years and I used it sometimes when I went out. Now I take her phone when I go out for a walk while my “baby iPhones” relax in their wireless charging pad the whole day. Its my grandmom’s cheap phone and its 10 times better than iPhone. Why are the complains only from apple users? Why not Samsung users? Ever thought about that?
You should read the article you linked to. It explains how lithium ion batteries slow down and perform poorly in cold weather. It also shows that the vast majority of devices encounter problems in cold weather. You hoisted yourself on your own petard, as the information you present solidifies my contentions, not yours.
No, Samsung didn’t add a heating element to the Exynos processor. It runs hot. In warm weather, it overheats and slows down the phone. This is why people who know Android buy phones with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Samsung typically sells the ones with Exynos processors in Europe and other countries. U.S. versions of Samsung phones use Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. These will have problems in cold weather, but perform better in warm weather or at room temperature. We can buy Exynos ones at a discount, and some Americans do this, as they’re simply sold as the “European variant”.
Overheating is a much bigger problem than cold weather use. Most people who own smartphones use them indoors or in warmer climates. Smartphones are created to benefit most people. The Exynos-powered phones, as a side-effect of their thermal problem, work better in cold weather. This is not a feature. It’s a coincidence. Samsung is trying to make Exynos processors that don’t have this thermal issue. It’s a well-known problem in the Android world.
I’m not sure if this is a language issue or if you’re intellectually challenged, but you just don’t get it. The iPhone dies in cold weather because A-series processors are ridiculously efficient and don’t have thermal issues. This also means that the iPhone won’t overheat as easily as other devices.
Solar panels can be out in the cold. Lithium-ion batteries cannot. I guess I have to inform you, that in Sweden, they’re shifting to storing energy in hydrogen fuel cells, as opposed to lithium-ion batteries, specifically due to the cold. The hydrogen gas tank can be stored outside.
I guess if you wrote an article entitled “iPhone Tips for Cold Weather”, it would simply tell people not to buy an iPhone. Maybe you should do that? See how your readers like that. Maybe you should start your own, awesome website where you can tell iPhone users to buy a different phone? I’m sure it would do very well!
I have used an iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone X and currently an iPhone 12 mini. All of them have a sh—y battery, especially 6s and my current iPhone 12 mini. All the best when you’re stuck in cold weather trying to survive. Thats the last thing I want to be stuck with in the middle of a Scandinavian forest. Better leave it at home lol. I have switched to Samsung and I can confirm you are bullsh—ing about lithium ion batteries. Thats not an excuse, my guy. My powerbank and Samsung do not die in cold weather. Try it yourself. Does it mean they don’t have lithium ion batteries? Do you know how many solar companies in Sweden are doing business locally in Scandinavia? All of them are big and all of them use lithium ion batteries to store power off grid. They are installed in cold weather conditions when they are exposed to snow which barely even affects the battery. Does it mean they’re all lying or using some other form of technology that Apple doesn’t know about? I’ve used all phones the same amount of time (except 12 mini that just came out) and its not wrong to say Apple products have started to suck more & more and become absolutely useless with their innovation. After the death of Steve Jobs, there has not been one revolutionary innovation that has changed the way people view iPhone. We pay extra for our phones to relax in a heated environment? Absolute nonsense. No one needs a smooth phone with super delicate features that breaks at the smallest fall and dies in 5 mins outside your house. Does that make any sense to you saying that you would rather have a “cool” phone that can chill at home or be switched off in that warm blanket in your pocket? Instead of defending these things, try to understand it’s a problem everyone has been addressing and we know the difference between iPhones and Samsung/Huawei phones. Sad that Huawei will die soon but Apple definitely does not deserve to be on top. People are right. It’s a waste of money and no one cares about quality. Samsung has better quality camera, battery, OS and screen, and it can connect to any smart tv. What is that brow on top of new iPhone 12 series? I think Apple forgot you’re supposed to make it better not uglier.
You’re the only BS artist around here. As explained numerous times, your Samsung device uses an Exynos processor. Samsung phones sold in Europe tend to have Exynos processors as opposed to Snapdragon. The Exynos processor is known to have thermal issues. It keeps the phone warmer, including the batteries.
I doubt anyone who hates Apple so much would own all of their phones. More BS… I own a OnePlus 8 Pro because I dislike the poor quality of Apple products over the past 5 years. The iPhone 12 is like a two-year-old phone, compared to other flagships.
Here’s a detailed article from Battery University showing how cold affects lithium ion batteries.
Here’s a lithium ion battery heater. Its purpose is to keep lithium ion batteries operating at peak performance in cold weather.
The solar panels are out in the snow. There are power converters and then the generated current is stored in batteries, which are stored indoors. I researched this and could not find any solar energy installation where the batteries are left out in the elements. I live in California. In my neighborhood, there are dozens of houses with solar panels. Not one has a battery outdoors. The heat would start a fire. They would perform poorly in the cold.
Even solar panels themselves perform poorly in the cold. This is pretty basic physics that your BS cannot overcome.
……..My Android uses lithium ion too and I have never had an issue. Girlfriends 6S plus dies right away in the cold. I can leave my Android outside in my toolbox in the winter -20F and it will still last all day zero issues. So no it’s for sure just an iPhone thing.
I have an Android phone too. I recently purchased a OnePlus 8 Pro. It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. This processor doesn’t overheat or have thermal issues. Last night, my phone had about 7% charge and I powered it down and went to sleep. It was cold overnight and I had the window open a crack. When I woke up in the morning, the battery couldn’t power on the phone. Normally, it would work. The cold temperatures changed the state of the battery and it was no longer sufficiently charged to power on the device. So there’s an Android phone that also obeys the laws of physics. Imagine that!
Most likely, your Android device has an Exynos processor. This is notorious for overheating. Samsung uses these in international models, because they can’t get enough Qualcomm processors. An Android phone with an Exynos processor is pretty much a hand warmer. It’s going to have problems on hot days — slowdowns and shutdowns.
Apple’s A-series processors, much like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon line, don’t have thermal issues. They don’t overheat. On a cold day, the iPhone and the best Android phones will obey the laws of physics. It’s a good thing. If your phone shuts down when it’s cold, it won’t overheat when it’s hot. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. I tried this out once, and it’s true.
Okay, so the phone gets too cold and shuts off… Do I just wait for it to warm up? How long does that normally take?
I was wondering if a sealable Ziploc sandwich sized bag would work as a brief thermal protection.
I used to put my Samsung in a Ziploc quart bag whenever I’d go swimming or was outside when it felt especially treacherous for someone who is highly clumsy like me.
Also Would having Low Power Mode on 99% of the time be a bad idea?
I have an new iphone x, every time im at work outside and i have to talk on the phone the iphone dies. I keep it in my inner poket of my clothes to be warm. Is only 3 deg celsius outside today and it closed again.
It is not true that all devices stop in cold weather! My coleagues phones do not stop. I also have iphone 4s , that one works perfectly and i keep it on the table not in clothes to be warm. By end of day the x has like 40% left and the 4s has 80% .
I had many iphones before but the x is the wortst i ever had , it dies on me a lot.
We also have tools with litium bateries, they do not stop. My mac book does not stop.
How is it that from a team of 8 people only the iphone x stopps and allways when cold. If warm inside a room no problem .
You should be ashamed of yourselves i payed 1400 euro for this phone and it does not work!
It will be the last iphone i ever buy !
I’m visiting my uncle in Canada and I took my phone out in -25 temperatures this led to my phone rapidly losing charge and eventually turning off after surviving on 1% for a while. 8 hours of charging at a reliable source and still not turning on. Is my battery broken?
No, they don’t tend to overheat! For many years, my wife has always had an iPhone and I have always had a droid. How can you tell people they tend to overheat if you don’t even carry one? I carry one and have only had it overheat once and that was because I forgot to roll down my car windows on a hot day. Every time my wife does outside for more than 5 minutes during the winter, her phone shuts down until it gets warm again. Don’t try to justify the failure of the iJunk battery by claiming other mfg do it, because they don’t!
I researched it. Every phone people have mentioned that doesn’t fail in cold weather, overheats in warm weather. The Sony Xperia that so many have mentioned (hired trolls?) is notorious for overheating.
What phone is a “droid”? Is it the Motorola Droid? Louis Black has some great material on that one.
Let me know the specific model of phone, and I can ascertain whether it has thermal issues, although, you have already pointed out that it does.
As an enterprise Java software engineer, I am well aware of the inefficiencies of Java. I know the differences between managed code and binaries that are compiled to machine language.
You yourself admit that your “droid” overheated once. I have never had an Apple device overheat on me —- even in the California desert. By your own admission, these devices overheat. It’s not an anomaly. It’s a consequence of design decisions.
Apple has consequences for their design decisions. Their phones shut down when it is too cold. Most Android phone makers also have consequences for their designs. They shut down when it is too hot. These realities are based on the laws of physics. No manufacturer can change these laws.
You actually told people that they tend to overheat:
I mention this because your account is but one of myriad complaints. The reason why your “droid” still works in cold weather is because it runs warmer than an iPhone. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Apple doesn’t use inferior batteries in their devices. Lithium ions seize under cold conditions. This is a fact of physics. Your phone generates more heat, which prevents the lithium ions from seizing. That’s the science and logic. Your punditry and “trying to justify” arguments are just generic contentions with no basis in science or logic.
What evidence do you have that your device maker has invented a battery with lithium ions that do not obey the laws of physics? They just buy batteries from multiple suppliers at the cheapest prices possible. With many of these phones, you can buy two of the same model, and they will have batteries from different manufacturers. They’re not super batteries that transcend the laws of physics. The phenomenon is that these phones run hot because the operating system isn’t efficient.
If you’re talking about denial, I see someone justifying a phone that admittedly overheats. I mean, you totally contradicted yourself. You say they don’t overheat, but admit yours overheated.