Mobile phone in winter: How smartphones survive ice and snow

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When snowflakes dance and skates scrape across the ice, smartphones struggle with the cold. While modern devices handle snow, frost, and moisture better than older models, some problems remain.

OLED panels have become standard in smartphone displays, even in lower price ranges, which is good news in winter. With LCD displays, cold causes the viscosity of the liquid crystals to decrease. Other parameters, such as the dielectric coefficient, also change. This causes the molecules to move more slowly, and the display reacts sluggishly. In extreme cases, a screen may become unusable because it remains in a frozen state.

OLED displays generally remain usable even at sub-zero temperatures. They do suffer in extreme frost, but to a lesser extent. Often, touch signals are no longer reliably recognized on the first attempt. However, some models offer a solution in the system settings. If there is a glove mode, you should activate it, as it increases the sensitivity of the touchscreen. Additionally, gloves with conductive fingertips are now available for a small price. These allow you to operate your smartphone without taking off your gloves.

Cold is significantly more dangerous for the battery. It functions best at room temperature; frost and heat disrupt the chemical processes within the cell. Most manufacturers specify a temperature range between 0°C and 35°C for their batteries, with optimal usage temperatures around 20°C. For storage, it can be slightly cooler but not freezing. Temperatures below freezing make the electrolyte in the battery more viscous, ions move slower, and capacity drops noticeably. This can lead to a rapid decrease in capacity and, with continued cold, to permanent damage. Many smartphones automatically shut down to prevent harmful deep discharge due to the cold. Charging in the cold takes significantly longer than at moderate temperatures and puts more stress on the battery.

This leads to several pieces of advice. Do not leave your smartphone, or other small devices like navigation devices or cameras, in a cold car for extended periods. Do not charge them immediately if the frost has weakened the battery; wait until it has slowly warmed up to room temperature.

Beware of condensation

Most current smartphones have sealed casings that are protected against dust and at least splash water, and often even against temporary submersion. This removes the fear of dropping them into slush or a puddle. However, moisture can still become a problem in the form of condensation. This can also form inside, especially during rapid temperature changes. Therefore, you should exercise caution and thaw your device gently when you come back inside from the cold. If you don't trust the manufacturer's water protection, or if you have a non-waterproof phone, it's best to invest a few euros in a protective case or a waterproof carrying bag. In a pinch, a plastic bag will also do.

Six tips for phones in winter

1. Proper Transport

The simplest solutions are sometimes the most effective: carry your smartphone close to your body to prevent it from cooling down. An inside pocket is preferable to an outside pocket. A smartphone can also get too cold quickly in a backpack or car, so don't leave it there for too long.

2. Avoid rapid temperature changes

If it's freezing cold outside, the journey into a warm room can quickly involve a temperature jump of 30 degrees Celsius. It can be even more pronounced if you place the smartphone directly on a heater. Such a drastic temperature change in a short period leads to condensation, which can cause damage and short circuits inside the smartphone. Therefore, you should definitely let your smartphone warm up slowly and absolutely not place it on a heater or use a hairdryer to bring it back to temperature as quickly as possible.

3. Avoid moisture

Even though many current smartphones are now IP68 water-resistant, moisture is not good for devices, especially not in conjunction with extreme cold. Therefore, under such conditions, devices should be kept in your pocket as well protected as possible. You can still make calls with connected headphones.

4. Dry the smartphone

If the smartphone does get wet, and it was perhaps a model without water protection, it is important to react calmly. If the device is switched off, leave it that way for now. Remove everything that can be removed, such as the SIM tray and possibly the battery and its cover. Compressed air and blowing into openings are not a good idea, as water can get into areas it wouldn't otherwise reach. Instead, gently tap out the moisture on a soft surface and then let the device dry slowly for a few hours, if possible, half a day, before turning it back on.

5. Charge properly

Whether warm or cold, the battery will eventually give out. If your smartphone runs out of power on the go, you should be patient when charging. Before plugging in the charger, the device should have warmed up to room temperature – and slowly, see tip 2. This is how the battery feels most comfortable and stays healthy longer in the long run. If the smartphone has shut down on its own due to cold, wait until it is warm again before turning it on.

6. Shut down

If it's so cold that your smartphone behaves unusually or is difficult to operate, it's best to turn it off and store it safely in your pocket. In such situations, this usually prevents an automatic shutdown and avoids permanent damage.

(sht)