How to take care of your smartphone’s battery in the summer heat

TORONTO – Summer is finally here and who to accompany you on all of your outdoor adventures than your smartphone?

But sadly our trusty tech companions are not built for baking in the sun.

Anyone who has left their phone out in the sun has seen the infamous “Your phone needs to cool down” message at one time or another.

Smartphones should not be left in direct sunlight or extreme heat for too long – this includes leaving your phone in a hot car, using it to blast tunes while you frolic on the beach, or even bringing it along for your outdoor workout (especially if its touching your sweaty body).

READ MORE: Smartphones may not work in extreme cold weather

Lithium-ion batteries are most comfortable at about 32-degrees Fahrenheit (0-degrees Celsius), which is good for us Canadians. But as the mercury rises in the dead of the summer our phones become more vulnerable.

Right away you will notice that the hotter your phone gets, the faster the battery dies.

But heat exposure can damage your phone’s battery permanently.

At an average temperature of 0-degrees Celsius a lithium-ion battery should lose about six per cent of its maximum capacity per year.

That number jumps to 20 per cent at an average temperature of 25-degrees Celsius.

Pro tip: Don’t leave your phone in direct sunlight if you need it while outside. Something as simple as leaving it in the shade will help prevent overheating. If it’s especially hot outside, you may also want to avoid keeping your phone in your pocket.

If you do get an overheating warning on your phone, it’s best to get it out of the heat or sun as soon as possible to let it cool down.

Most phones will become unusable until they cool down.

However, it’s not recommended you put your phone in the freezer to speed up the process.

Pro tip: Your phone’s battery heats up faster the more apps and features you have running. Try turning off any battery-consuming features (like BlueTooth, or Wi-Fi) if you don’t need them, and shut down apps that you aren’t using while outside for better battery performance.

However, if you notice your phone is overheating too often, it might be best to get the battery tested by a professional.

Some smartphones have reputations for overheating while charging – this is usually a sign of a battery issue.