Winter is here, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll see the white landscape covered in white, creating a frosty wonderland.
But winter’s beauty can also be cruel, with plenty of downsides—many of which affect your tech devices. Falling into snow, freezing temperatures damaging inner components, or accidental overheating are only some of the many pitfalls your devices may face during winter.
Luckily, you can prepare for the worst ahead of time. Here are the top five tips for protecting your tech during winter.
1. Waterproof Bags Are Your Best Friend
If you spend the cold season in a winter wonderland painted white, be careful with your devices. Snow is, at the end of the day, water—and water is the enemy of any tech device.
When going out, be sure to keep your tech in waterproof bags or pouches, mainly if you engage in winter sports or activities that require rolling around in the snow, but not exclusively—after all, snow can damage your phone even if you are careful to avoid it.
2. Insulated case, always
While a waterproof bag may keep those droplets away, it won’t protect your phone or other tech devices from the damage of freezing temperatures.
Although you may not see it, very cold temperatures can make your phone and other tech more prone to damage. The thin and sensitive internal components can freeze and, in turn, become fragile and prone to breakage. Any low-impact hit—such as a harmless drop—could create massive damage in these circumstances.
Plenty of insulated thermal cases are available in the market, and they’re an excellent option if you spend a lot of time outdoors during winter.
3. Be Mindful of Condensation
Whenever you move from freezing outdoor temperatures to warm and humid indoor ones, you risk condensation—the formation of water droplets on top of the cold surface.
This can spell bad news for your devices. If you move your phone from the cold outdoors to the warm and humid indoors and start using it right away, the fast temperature shift can risk condensation forming inside, wetting the components and potentially damaging it beyond repair.
To prevent that, use an insulated case and let your devices warm up to room temperature after being outdoors.
4. Don’t Use In Freezing Weather
Although all the previous tips can protect your phone and other devices from unexpected shenanigans, your risk of damage increases exponentially merely by using them in extreme freezing temperatures.
Most phones and devices work in temperatures above 0°C (32°F). If you’re below zero, your phone will function more slowly, the battery will not last, and clashing temperatures between your devices and the outside temperature can even induce long-term damage.
In short? Keep the phone for the cosy indoors as much as you can.
5. Avoid Heat Sources
We’ve discussed the damage caused by cold temperatures for electronic devices, but winter is also the time to prevent heat damage.
If the cold damages devices so much, you might be tempted to warm them up by placing them in front of heating sources. But in truth, even just a few seconds of that exposure can lead to irreversible damage by overheating.
The best way to warm your devices up is progressively and slowly. Your best bet might be your body temperature, so keep them close to you.
Conclusion? Avoid Extremes
Your phone and other devices haven’t been designed for extreme temperatures. Whether the temperature is too cold or too warm, these shifts can damage the delicate components within and compromise their integrity.
As such, your best bet for this winter is to watch out for temperature shifts. Your phone, tablet, or gaming device should be pleasantly warm, dry, and, hopefully, away from the freezing cold winds of winter.
