Extreme heat puts mobile phones at risk, experts urge caution with batteries

The very high temperatures being recorded in several European countries are not only affecting citizens’ health, but also the technological devices used every day.

According to experts, smartphones are among the devices most at risk from intense heat. If they are left for a long time in direct sunlight or inside a parked car, they can suffer battery overheating, reduced performance, and damage that lasts over time.

Rechargeable batteries with lithium components in their electrodes, which are found in most modern phones, are especially vulnerable to high temperatures. In some situations, the devices themselves activate protective systems, slowing down functions or temporarily shutting down to avoid damage.

Specialists recommend that people avoid exposing their phones directly to the sun, refrain from charging them in excessively hot environments, and reduce the use of applications that consume a lot of energy during the hottest hours of the day.

The impact of heat waves does not stop with phones alone. According to estimates, they are also creating problems in other areas, such as electric cars, rail transport, and energy networks, further adding to the difficulties caused by this summer’s record temperatures.