The AchieVer Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 (edited) How long can your phone survive in a polar vortex? Find out how best to handle your smartphone during extreme cold It's polar vortex season across the US and temperatures have plunged to -60 degrees Fahrenheit (-50 Celcius) in some areas. In conditions as extreme as those, it's important to know how to stay safe and get help. If you're traveling or have lost power during the polar vortex, you should always keep your smartphone with you. But you should also be aware of how long your phone will last in the bitter cold. iPhones iPhones don't do well in extreme temperatures -- anything colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit (or anything hotter than 95 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Apple. The company suggests shutting the phone off if it's colder than four degrees. The phone's lithium-ion battery can stop discharging electricity at extremely cold temperatures. The iPhone X, for example, can become unresponsive in frigid air. Getting the device warm, by getting inside or keeping it close to your body, and then charging it should solve the problem, Roger Gurney, owner of Arctic Tech Solutions in Fairbanks, Alaska, told USA Today. Staying on top of software updates can include technology that protects your battery and saves energy. Download.com: The best emergency apps for hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters 45 PHOTOS Best iPhone XS and XS Max cases Samsung Galaxy phones Android devices have similar needs to iPhones because of they have the same kind of lithium-ion batteries. Samsung said that its phones will operate under normal temperatures, but may experience difficulties in extreme hot or cold. The company warned users not to leave their phones in car glove compartments in the cold (or hot). Google Pixel phones The Pixel 2 XL reportedly has trouble charging at temperatures under 68 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Android Police. Reddit users reported poor performance on the Pixel 1 as well. One post detailed trying to use the Pixel 1 in 18-degree weather while the battery was at 83 percent. The user said the phone crashed and didn't recover, despite rebooting in battery save mode, until it was properly charged at home. It's possible that the latest Pixel 3 will have similar issues in the extreme cold. It's also worth noting that if your smartphone has the fingerprint lock enabled, it might be a bit less accurate in freezing weather. Other devices Huawei, OnePlus and LG smartphones have similar problems in the cold. Users in forumsand on Reddit reported the devices losing battery life or shutting down in frigid temperatures. How to keep your phone safe in the cold The best way to ensure your smartphone's battery life during the polar vortex is to avoid going outside with it if you can help it. You probably don't need to be told to avoid going outside to make phone calls in frigid temperatures. But if you are outside with your phone, keep it in your pocket. If you have an inner jacket pocket that keeps the device close to your body, all the better. Avoid leaving your phone in a parked car as well. If the temperature gets low enough, it can be best to shut your phone off. Wait until your device has warmed up a bit before you attempt to turn it on or charge it again. Trying to charge a very cold or hot device can result in battery damage. If you have to be outside with your phone often, you can also purchase a case that can keep your phone warm. ClimateCase, Burton Antifreeze and Salt Cases all make insulated smartphone cases. Edited February 1, 2019 by The AchieVer Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Matt Posted February 1, 2019 Administrator Share Posted February 1, 2019 When it's a deadly polar vortex you had better worry about yourself not your smartphone otherwise someone else will be using your smartphone. hpwamr, Jogs, The AchieVer and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEmpathicEar Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 I tried to reply to this [and other topics, and a PM] in Chrome. The reply area was greyed out. I am doing this in IE. What's up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Matt Posted February 1, 2019 Administrator Share Posted February 1, 2019 @TheEmpathicEar It happened to me today too, but I closed Chrome and reopened it things back to work. Maybe your computer it's too cold. TheEmpathicEar, hpwamr, Reefa and 1 other 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEmpathicEar Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 20 hours ago, Matt said: @TheEmpathicEar It happened to me today too, but I closed Chrome and reopened it things back to work. Maybe your computer it's too cold. Glad it worked 4 U. I am doing this in Chrome on my 32-bit Windows 10 desktop - not sure of the version in Chrome. On my 64-bit Windows 10 laptop in Chrome, I do not see the "Quote" button above and the "Reply" area is still greyed out. No idea why. I let Chrome update itself on the laptop and even rebooted . Nogo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Matt Posted February 2, 2019 Administrator Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 minute ago, TheEmpathicEar said: Glad it worked 4 U. I am doing this in Chrome on my 32-bit Windows 10 desktop - not sure of the version in Chrome. On my 64-bit Windows 10 laptop in Chrome, I do not see the "Quote" button above and the "Reply" area is still greyed out. No idea why. I let Chrome update itself on the laptop and even rebooted . Nogo. Try to clear cache and cookies from the Chrome. Reefa and TheEmpathicEar 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEmpathicEar Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 13 minutes ago, Matt said: Try to clear cache and cookies from the Chrome. Damn, that worked. I cleared "Cookies and other Site Data" and "Cached images and files". I have everything synced in Google across all devices. Does that have any effect on this sort of thing? i.e. Create problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Matt Posted February 2, 2019 Administrator Share Posted February 2, 2019 Just now, TheEmpathicEar said: Damn, that worked. I cleared "Cookies and other Site Data" and "Cached images and files". I have everything synced in Google across all devices. Does that have any effect on this sort of thing? i.e. Create problems? Glad that worked for you, and yes sometimes cache create some problems. This is why you have to clean them more often. TheEmpathicEar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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