The familiar thing about the UK is that we’ll have months of grey skies, rain and jumpers… then suddenly get hit with an absolute belter of a summer.
With temperatures climbing again across the UK, there’s a good chance you’ll be spending more time outdoors — whether that’s sunbathing in the garden, heading out for a walk, or firing up the BBQ.
But while you’re making the most of the sunshine, spare a thought for your mobile phone too.
Phones aren’t big fans of extreme heat. Leave one sitting in direct sunlight for too long and you could notice slower performance, battery drain, charging issues, temperature warnings or, in some cases, your device temporarily shutting itself down to protect itself.
Unfortunately, there’s no SPF 50 for smartphones and throwing it in the paddling pool definitely isn’t the answer.
Here are our top tips for keeping your phone cool during the UK heatwave.
Keep your phone out of direct sunlight.
This one sounds obvious, but it’s the biggest cause of overheating in hot weather.
Your phone’s temperature is heavily influenced by its surroundings. Leave it on a sun lounger, dashboard, picnic blanket or outdoor table and the heat builds quickly.
If possible, keep your phone:
- In the shade
- In your pocket or bag
- Under a towel or blanket (without completely trapping heat)
- Out of direct sunlight whenever you’re not using it
Your battery will thank you.
Close the apps you’re not using.
We’re all guilty of having dozens of apps open.
Switching between Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, emails, WhatsApp and maps all day means your phone is constantly working in the background.
More processing = more heat.
A quick clear-out of unused apps can reduce unnecessary workload and help your device stay cooler.
Turn on Airplane Mode when you don’t need signal.
If you’re relaxing in the garden or sunbathing and don’t need notifications every few seconds, Airplane Mode can help reduce battery use and heat.
Your phone won’t be constantly searching for mobile signal, syncing apps or updating in the background.
Top tip: You can often turn Wi-Fi back on afterwards if you still want internet access without all the extra background activity.
Avoid gaming, filming and charging in the heat.
Heavy tasks are one of the fastest ways to overheat your phone.
Recording 4K video, gaming, video calls and editing content all generate extra heat — especially outdoors.
Charging creates heat too, so if your device already feels warm:
- Pause charging for a bit
- Remove the charger once topped up
- Avoid fast charging in direct sunlight
- Keep usage light while charging
Remove your phone case temporarily.
Phone cases are brilliant for protection but not always for ventilation.
If your device feels unusually warm, taking the case off for a short period can help heat escape more easily.
Just avoid placing it on hot surfaces while it cools.
Don’t put your phone in the fridge.
We’ve all heard the hack. But putting an overheating phone in the fridge or freezer can do more harm than good.
Rapid temperature changes can create condensation inside your device and potentially cause damage.
Keep your devices separate.
If your phone’s sharing space with a laptop, tablet, power bank or another handset, all that heat builds up.
Try to give your tech some breathing room — especially when travelling or working outdoors.
Bonus tip: Lower screen brightness.
Your display is one of the biggest battery users on your phone.
Dropping brightness slightly can reduce heat and stretch battery life at the same time. Auto-brightness can help too.
Enjoy the heat, not an overheating phone.
We all love a proper UK summer while it lasts.
Long evenings, weekends outside and spontaneous plans hit differently when the weather turns.
The only thing you don’t need? A phone warning telling you it needs to cool down.
Follow these simple tips and your mobile should stay happy all summer long.
And if you’re looking for something hot this season, we’ve got the deals covered too — with unmissable prices on the latest smartphones and free delivery.
