Why we should never charge our phone with its case on – the expert explains and suggests solutions

The cases we use for our cell phones can damage our battery life, especially when charging.

While plastic, rubber, and silicone smartphone cases are great for absorbing shock from drops and keeping liquids out, these materials can act as insulation, trapping heat around the device, which can lead to unpleasant results.

Apple explains

This may not be a concern in the winter, in cold climates, but according to Apple’s guidelines for maximizing battery performance, “Charging your device while inside some cases may generate excess heat, which can affect battery capacity.”

So, if we notice the phone getting too hot while charging, we may need to unbox it, the Daily Mail article notes.

According to Apple, iPhone and other iOS and iPadOS devices, including the Apple Watch, work best in an ambient temperature between 0° and 35°C.

According to experts, Apple engineers designed their devices for maximum performance at room temperature. The ideal point is between 16° to 22°C, whenever possible.

So while some thick phone cases won’t cause a temperature spike on their own, they will contribute to the overall heating along with factors like battery life, internal battery wear and tear, or just the weather of the day.

An expert explains about mobile phone charging

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, author of The PC Doctor’s Fix It Yourself Guide, experimented with charging the iPhone 13 Pro Max in various cases while inside a room with an ambient temperature of 16°C.

Kingsley discovered that the lower 5W charges were able to keep his iPhone in his “comfort zone” no matter what phone case he was using.

However, higher-powered USB-C chargers showed signs of the iPhone heating up, especially if you tried to use the phone while it was charging.

In general, he says, silicone cases kept the phone cooler than rubber cases.

His conclusion: Reverting to a slower 5W charger can help, either in warmer climates or if one does not feel like constantly removing and reinserting their smartphone in its case.

Overcharging or undercharging can also affect your phone’s battery life.

Don’t leave your device in your car.

Chinese manufacturer Huawei recommends that users keep their devices charged between 30% and 70% to get the best battery life. And even Apple has a special setting that keeps the phone from getting close to 80% to help extend its battery life.

But when it comes to phone battery life and temperatures, the rule of thumb is to simply avoid extreme temperatures as much as possible.

As Apple’s support site warns, “Using your iOS or iPadOS device in extremely hot conditions can permanently reduce battery life.”

For example: “Don’t leave your device in your car because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.”