Why your battery is effected by the cold

The UK is currently experiencing something of a cold snap, okay not quite as brisky as the image above but still pretty chilly with some areas reaching -14°C.

And the bad news is, in addition to having to scrape ice off your windows, navigate treacherous pavements and dress like the Michelin man… you now have to take into consideration that your smartphone battery may lose its charge quicker.

That’s because most smartphones, including the iPhone, tend to use lithium ion batteries, so when temperatures fluctuate the internal resistance of your battery increases, lowering its capacity and making it less efficient. And the chillier is gets, the quicker your battery loses charge.

This may be a particular nuisance to iPhone 6S and 6S Plus users, with Apple admitting this week that the battery indicator has a tendency to display a higher charge than the phone actually has.

How to beat the cold

The easiest solution is the most obvious – try to keep your phone at a moderate temperature during these winter months by keeping it in a warm pocket close to your body.

But if you do regularly use your phone outdoors – perhaps to take pictures of the frost – or want some extra reassurance, then a well-enclosed case will definitely help your battery last longer.

So wrap-up warm folks and remember summer’s just a few months away!

Source: Independent