Soaring temperatures do not just drain your energy; they punish your gadgets, too. Batteries swell, screens dim to protect themselves, processors slow to a crawl, and charging can grind to a halt entirely. Yet, a few simple habits can prevent a heatwave from turning into an expensive repair bill.
Here is how to protect the devices you rely on most during this heated summer.
Your phone is the device most likely to bake in the sun, whether it is perched on a café table, clutched in a sweaty hand, or left face-up on a car seat. Direct sunlight is the enemy. If you are outside, move into the shade before using it, and angle the screen away from the light. Inside a parked vehicle, cabin temperatures can rocket in minutes, so never leave a handset on the dashboard or passenger seat.
Screen brightness matters enormously. Crank it up to full in the glare, and you are forcing the battery and processor to work harder, generating more internal heat. Dim the display as much as you can, or switch on auto-brightness. If the device starts to struggle, Airplane Mode is your best friend. It shuts down cellular modems and 5G, which are among the biggest internal heat producers.
As for charging, remember that it already creates warmth. Crucially, avoid wireless charging pads during a heatwave. Because induction is inefficient, these pads generate significant ambient heat directly against the back of your phone. Instead, use a standard, low-wattage wired cable. If the handset feels hot while plugged in, disconnect it immediately.
When you notice the phone is scorching, remove its case. Protective covers, especially thick silicone or rugged shells, act like a winter coat. Letting the back panel breathe helps heat escape.
Laptops and tablets face the same thermal threats as phones, but their larger size means they trap even more heat. Never work with a laptop resting on a blanket, cushion, or duvet, which blocks the underside vents. Give the air intakes at least two to three inches of clear space on all sides, so the fans can pull in fresh air without recirculating warm exhaust. If you must use the device outdoors, place it on a hard, flat surface, such as a tray or a book.
Switch from performance mode to a balanced or power-saver profile. This dials back the processor and graphics, reducing the hot air the cooling fans need to expel. Close browser tabs and background applications you are not actively using. For tablets, the same rules apply: dim the screen, avoid processor-heavy games, and, if possible, slip off the folio case so the rear metal shell can radiate warmth away.
Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and wireless earbuds are often easily forgotten. Their tiny batteries are especially sensitive to high temperatures. When you are not wearing them, store them in a cool, shaded place. Earbud charging cases also pack a battery; a case left in direct sunlight can become a miniature oven, permanently shortening the lifespan of the cells inside.
Power banks, handheld consoles, and Kindles all contain lithium-ion cells that degrade when they spend too long in the heat. Avoid keeping them in trouser pockets where body warmth adds to the ambient temperature. If you carry several gadgets in a backpack, never stack them tightly on top of each other; give them space so air can circulate and pooled heat can escape.
Severe heat can strain the electrical grid, causing voltage spikes and dips that are dangerous for sensitive gear. If you are charging laptops, external monitors, or other high-value devices during a heatwave, plug them into a quality surge protector. A cheap extension lead offers no defence against a sudden surge, and the cost of a proper protected strip is far less than replacing a fried motherboard.
If your device displays a temperature warning or feels scorching to the touch, avoid these common cooling mistakes:
Modern electronics are built to protect themselves by slowing down or shutting off when they reach unsafe thresholds. When they do, the safest approach is simply to strip the case, power it down, and let patience do the work in a shaded, well-ventilated spot.
