● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsLow impact1 negative1 neutral
Placing Overheating Phones in Refrigerators Causes Device Damage, Repair Shops Report
Key points
- Social media trend suggests putting overheating phones in refrigerators.
- This practice causes condensation and thermal shock damage.
- Repair shops in Europe and UK report increased fridge-damaged phones.
- Apple advises natural cooling in shaded environments.
- Lithium batteries are particularly sensitive to thermal shock.
Refrigerator Cooling Damages Phones
A trend circulating on social media platforms, including TikTok, recommends placing overheating mobile phones into refrigerators as a quick cooling solution. This method, however, is causing significant damage to devices, leading to an uptick in repairs at phone shops.
The primary issues stem from condensation forming on internal components and the thermal shock experienced by the device due to rapid temperature changes. These factors can harm various parts of the phone, including the battery and screen.
Increased Damage Reports from Repair Shops
Phone repair shops in Europe and the UK have reported a noticeable increase in customers bringing in devices damaged by this cooling technique. This rise in incidents coincides with periods of higher temperatures, such as recent heatwaves in the UK.
The damage observed includes issues related to moisture ingress from condensation and stress on components from sudden temperature shifts, particularly affecting lithium batteries which are sensitive to thermal shock.
Manufacturer Recommendations for Overheating
Device manufacturers, such as Apple, advise against extreme cooling methods. Instead, Apple recommends allowing an overheating iPhone to cool down naturally by placing it in a shaded environment. Users are also cautioned against leaving devices in hot places like a car's glove box, where temperatures can reach levels high enough to cause damage or even battery fires.
To prevent overheating, users should reduce phone activity or remove its case, rather than resorting to methods that introduce rapid temperature changes or moisture.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
A TikTok trend is advising users to place overheating iPhones into refrigerators, leading to condensation and thermal shock damage. Repair shops in the UK have reported an increase in damaged devices due to this advice, contrasting with Apple's recommendation to cool devices naturally in a shaded environment.
Placing an overheating phone in a refrigerator can cause severe damage due to condensation forming on internal components and thermal shock from rapid temperature changes. This practice, sometimes recommended on social media, can harm the device's battery and screen. Instead, users should reduce phone activity or remove its case to cool it.