Extreme heat waves in Europe cause users to resort to faulty systems to cool their smartphones and tablets. Users who contacted service centers across the UK and Europe were found to have major faults on their devices.

Experts warn that placing overheated devices in the refrigerator or freezer is a critical flaw that causes permanent damage to the hardware. Technical service representative Jamie Farnell states that there has been a large increase in the number of devices coming with complaints of liquid contact, screen cracks and battery swelling, and emphasizes that unconscious cooling efforts lie at the root of this situation.

Sudden Temperature Changes Damage Internal Components

Taking a smartphone from a very hot environment and placing it directly into a cold environment causes a physical process inside the device. The air inside the device loses its moisture due to sudden cooling and turns into water droplets.

This situation exceeds the sealing properties of the device, causing corrosion on the motherboard and short-circuiting of electrical circuits. Many users do not realize that although the outside of the device cools, the internal parts suffer significant damage from this process.

Condensation formed in devices cooled in the refrigerator quickly shortens the life of electronic circuits.

Risk of Battery Swelling and Explosion Increases

While high temperatures are essentially a challenging factor for lithium-ion batteries, the sudden cooling process further deteriorates the chemical structure of these batteries.

Experts say that the battery of an iPad model brought to the repair shop in the heat of June swelled and exploded, posing a significant safety risk.

Modern smart devices are not designed to withstand sudden temperature fluctuations.

In addition, the special adhesives that hold the display panels and the device’s case together lose their flexibility and properties as a result of such shock cooling. This situation jeopardizes not only the internal hardware but also the external physical integrity of the device.

Correct Cooling Methods Should Be Applied

Jamie Farnell equates this wrong cooling habit with the myth of putting a wet phone in rice. Reminding that rice powder and starch block the speaker and charging ports of the device, experts emphasize that the safest formula is natural cooling.

The case of the heated device should be removed, the screen brightness should be reduced and the device should be left to cool down on its own at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

The safest way to protect your device is to leave it to cool naturally in a cool area.

What methods do you use to prevent your phone from overheating on extremely hot days? Don’t forget to share your experiences and the measures you take to protect your device with us in the comments section.