In the cold, the phone is quickly discharged. What to do, how to increase its operating time in the cold?

User question

Hello.

Please tell me about one problem (if I may say so). I have to spend part of my working time (especially on some days) outside (and now it's cold).

Because of this, the phone goes down quickly and I cannot call. Is there anything you can do?

Good time!

Something can be done 😉 (but in general, this problem is typical not only for phones, but also for laptops / tablets).

By the way, I also want to add that phones can not only quickly discharge, but also melt, smoke, and even explode (the latter, of course, seems to be not happening now, but the first phones in the 90s did this ...).

So, if you have suspicions that something is wrong with the battery (for example, it looks bulging, the phone gets very hot, etc.), I recommend contacting the service.

Now essentially ...

Preview for the note / meme

Why the phone is discharged from frost

Despite the fact that IT technologies in recent years have stepped far in front, batteries are still the cornerstone (I have not heard of any revolution in the innovations of their technologies).

So, today most smartphones are equipped with batteries with lithium-ion batteries capable of operating at temperatures from +1 to + 35 ° C (although there are also lithium-polymer batteries capable of operating up to -15 ° C, they are much more expensive).

In cold weather, such batteries are quickly discharged and lose their performance. Why?

I will try to explain in simple, philistine language. 👀

These batteries work through a chemical reaction: lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode. With a decrease in temperature, this process is disrupted:

chem. reactions slow down (this is probably known to many without batteries);
the electrolyte freezes, it becomes thicker (a kind of acid);
internal resistance increases.

I would even compare this process not with a quick discharge, but with "freezing" (ie, the battery cannot produce the required power for so long, since a certain part of it has frozen and stopped working).

By the way, it is often noted by many that after the battery is warmed up in a warm room, the "lost" power in the cold is restored! 👌

Position is further aggravated by the fact that the body (or part of it) in modern phones is often made of aluminum ... And this metal is heat-conducting, and in the cold it very quickly cools down to the outside temperature (and with it everything that is inside the phone case).

👉 Important!

Most modern phones are designed to operate in temperatures between +1 ° C and + 35 ° C. (do not confuse it with storage / transport temperature!)

If your device uses a lithium-polymer battery, the operating temperature may be somewhat wider: from -15 to + 35 ° C.

How to extend the battery life of your smartphone in the cold

In this subsection of the article, I will assume that you already have a phone (and I will not recommend another device for purchase).

Although, of course, a "thick" phone made of plastic (PVC) with a lithium-polymer battery (and even with a case) is able to work in the cold much more than any thin aluminum iPhone 6/7 ...

And if you start "digging" in the direction of the special. devices ...

1) Carry your phone down the street not in your purse (or hands), but in the inner pocket of your jacket (in your trouser pocket - the option is a little worse, but also better than in your hands).

The fact is that the heat coming from the body will heat up the phone and prevent the battery inside the phone from "freezing". If you do not often get it out for a conversation, then the proposed method should solve the problem!

2) Limit your talk time.

If you know that you will have to negotiate on the street for a long time, try to "split" them. After every few minutes of talking, put your phone in the inner pocket of your jacket and let it get away from the frost for a while.

Note: in some cases, due to a large temperature difference, condensation may begin to form inside the device (which will have a very bad effect on the filling of the device).

3) Use a headset.

Now on the market there are a variety of options for headphones with a microphone. There are very small and convenient options that will not create discomfort for you under the hat.

Thus, you can keep your phone in your pocket most of the time (that is, in the warmth), and conduct a conversation for hours ...

👉 To help!

You can buy various items for your phone (including a headset) at bargain prices in Chinese online stores.

Wireless headset

4) Buy a cover (preferably leather).

The cover (especially, made of natural materials) allows the phone to work on the street a little longer (due to it, the heat exchange of the device with the environment worsens, which means that the battery will "cool down" more slowly ...).

After all, the same skin protects not only us from the cold ... 👌

5) If you have a removable battery.

A frozen phone can warm up faster: remove the battery from the phone and place it close to your body (for example, in your shirt breast pocket). As a rule, after "warming up" - the battery is able to work for some more time without recharging.

6) Do not charge your phone in cold weather!

In general, it is highly discouraged to charge your phone at temperatures below +3 ° C.

7) The larger the phone (and the battery), the better!

The larger the physical volume of the phone (especially its thickness) - the longer it will "freeze", which means it will work longer in the cold (to make it clear what this is about - see the example below 👇).

Comparison of different phone models

8) Do not place the phone on batteries, heaters, etc. hot objects!

A similar mistake many beginners make when trying to warm up the device quickly.

By the way, I will add from myself that most often the battery behaves "not naturally" (melts, flows, ignites) due to improper operation: for example, when it was first frozen and then put on a hot battery.

By the way, on the site www.pcworld.com There is an interesting test: I give you a part of their rating, which they published (5 phones are given that turned out to be the most tenacious in the cold: they worked even at -30ºC!).