BRITAIN is officially baking – and while I’m all for a much-needed tan, my phone is not quite so happy.
I was fortunate enough to go to the Glastonbury Festival over the weekend and basked in pretty consistent sunshine as we danced away to Alanis Morissette, Busta Rhymes and the Kaiser Chiefs among others.
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Among it all, my iPhone was working overtime, taking loads of photos and videos, keeping in touch with friends and tracking the line-up on Vodafone’s Glastonbury Festival app.
Then suddenly it all came grinding to a halt.
A message popup on the screen saying my device was too hot and needed to cool down.
For anyone who hasn’t seen this before, a thermometer image appears and your iPhone temporarily stops working.
The only thing you can do is make an emergency call.
Despite warning people about this alert previously, I hadn’t actually thought to practice what I preach amid the distraction of Glastonbury.
So for about 10 minutes I was completely phoneless – this was probably a good thing to keep me offline and focused on the real world.
Fortunately, I was with friends at the time so it didn’t really matter.
But with a heatwave and temperatures as high as 35C due to hit today, it’s a problem more of us could face.
Apple says iPhones and iPads are “designed for use where the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35ºC”.
“Low- or high-temperature conditions may cause your device to change its behaviour to regulate its temperature,” their website says.
“Using an iOS or iPadOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life.”
Among the rules on Apple’s website, it seems I broke this one: “Using certain features in hot conditions or direct sunlight for an extended period of time.”
Oops.
So what can you do to avoid a similar fate?
HOW TO AVOID A MOBILE HEATWAVE MELTDOWN
Firstly, as it rightly says above, don’t use your iPhone – or any other mobile for that matter – in direct sunlight where possible.
I found not keeping my phone in my pocket also helped. That way I’m not heating up my handset and it’s not making me even hotter too.
Keeping it in a shaded spot is the best idea – or even in your bag away from the sunlight.
The other change that can help is lowering your screen brightness down.
Avoid powerful tasks when outside in hot weather, such as gaming or watching 4K videos as that extra power will only warm things up further.
And finally, it’s best not to charge your smartphone when it’s already hot.
But even more so, don’t use a wireless charger as these generate even more heat.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Sunny and hot with light winds for England and Wales with isolated heavy showers possible in the afternoon, particularly in northern and eastern England. Cooler and fresher in the northwest with a band of locally heavy rain gradually moving east.
Tonight:
Rain clearing Scotland, but cloud extending across northern England and Wales, bringing a little drizzle at times. Drier and clearer elsewhere. Very warm and muggy in the south and southeast.
Tuesday:
Hot and muggy in the southeast with the odd heavy shower possible. Bright and fresh in the northwest. Elsewhere, rather cloudy with patchy light rain or drizzle over the hills.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Fresher for all, with cloudier skies bringing spells of rain, these sometimes heavy on Wednesday and Friday, but some drier, brighter intervals as well. Temperatures near or slightly above average.
