With how overly reliant many of us are with our phones, it’s not surprising that we encounter issues associated with overuse, with overheating usually being the number one issue. This is probably a scenario that you’ve encountered one too many times: you jump from one app to another, fire off quick replies on your messaging apps, and before you know it, you feel your device heating up. It can be scary and may cause you to think that your phone will combust, but it’s actually normal to have an overheating phone. After all, your phone is an electronic device, and the movement of electricity required to make it function generates heat.
What is not normal is for your phone to overheat quite regularly, so you have to be extra wary about why it happens and take the necessary precautions to keep it from happening often. Otherwise, you’re only allowing your phone to age faster and cause other serious issues. So, here are some tips on how you can keep your smartphone from overheating.
Have your phone circuit checked out
In case you’re not too familiar with the anatomy of your smartphone, it most likely includes a printed circuit board (PCB), which functions to support internal electronic components, making it an integral feature of your device. But even though this is the case, it can also cause malfunctions like overheating especially if there’s a short. And while there are a ton of metal core PCBs available on the market today, the best course of action is to still have a professional check your phone in case your particular PCB requires a total replacement. Newer metal PCBs are built with thermal dissipation and structural integrity in mind, allowing them to dissipate heat away from active components, thereby lessening the chances of overheating in the future.
Close or delete apps
Just as your laptop malfunctions whenever it has limited space, your phone also tends to overheat when there are too many apps running in the background. This is because the apps not only consume RAM, but also eat up so much battery power and generate heat in long time processing. Oftentimes, even if you return to the home page, the apps still linger in the background and take up considerable processing power. It’s only when you quit the apps altogether will you be giving the phone a chance to cool down.
Avoid leaving it under direct sunlight
This is pretty much a no brainer, but your phone overheats when it’s exposed to too much heat, a.k.a. being under direct sunlight. If you leave your phone sitting outside in the sun or your car on a particularly hot day, it’s almost guaranteed that your phone will overheat. When this happens, put your device in a cooler place and allow it to cool down before using it. It would also help if you removed the protective casing so the heat can escape faster.
Only charge up to 80%
Even though it’s ideal to have your phone charged up to 100%, this is not considered best practice. Constantly doing a full recharge only shortens your battery’s lifespan. It’s also more inclined to overheat when it’s at a full charge, so it’s best to refuel it when it drops to near 30%, only unplugging it once it reaches an 80% charge. If you must charge your phone overnight and can’t wait until it reaches 80%, you must keep it on a cool, flat surface instead of your pillow or bedsheet.
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