A smartphone is a significant investment and protecting that investment takes many forms. For example, a durable phone case and phone insurance, such as AppleCare+, are obvious ways to protect your phone, but it’s important to consider solutions that might be a little easier to overlook when looking to minimize phone damage. Specifically, it’s essential to be aware of the types of spaces and locations where you should never store your phone.
How and where you store your phone can not only have a major impact on the functionality and lifespan of your device, but also on your own health. In addition to protecting yourself from physical damage from water and impact, you should also store and charge your phone in a way that protects it from environmental damage, and ensure you don’t keep the phone too close to your body for a long period of time. While learning where not to store your phone, you may also want to research other habits and behaviors you should avoid that will help maximize your phone’s performance and security.
Never store (or charge) your phone near heat sources
One of the most important considerations to make when deciding where to safely store your phone is how heat can damage it. However, it’s easy to forget that various fixtures, appliances, and surfaces can also emit the type of heat that can damage a phone. You should also make sure you don’t store or charge your phone near these potential heat sources.
Naturally, this means not storing or charging the phone near devices that obviously emit heat, such as ovens, microwaves, and even televisions. In addition to these areas, also consider how seemingly harmless surfaces can become heat sources in various situations or circumstances. For example, if you charge your phone overnight, you should not do so so that it is covered by blankets or a pillow. As well as potentially causing damage to the phone, there is evidence to suggest it could even pose a fire hazard. Instead, it’s best to charge a phone uncovered on a hard surface with good air circulation.
Don’t store your phone in your car
It might make sense to keep your phone away from heat sources around the house, but remember that the interior of your car can get surprisingly hot, especially on a sunny summer day. This is one reason why you should never store your phone (or any other device) inside your car. Even if a car is parked in the shade, even if it’s not as hot as a vehicle parked in the sun, it can still get hot enough to pose a risk to a phone stored inside. Exposing a phone to excessive heat can damage its internal components, which can lead to a range of problems.
Research shows that cars often function like greenhouses in hot weather. They can easily trap heat, causing temperatures to rise in a short period of time. Keep in mind that the temperature can fluctuate throughout the day, so even if the car doesn’t seem to be too hot when you park it, that can change within a few hours. In addition to the heat your phone will be exposed to while stored in a vehicle, leaving valuables unattended in a car also opens up the possibility of theft.
Don’t put your phone in an airport security bin
Knowing where not to store your phone also requires knowing where you should avoid keeping it, even for short periods of time. For example, travel experts advise against putting a phone in a TSA bin during airport security. They point out that leaving your phone out of sight in a TSA bin puts it at risk of theft. Plus, when you’re in a hurry, it’s easy to forget to take your phone out of the trash while you gather your things.
Instead, experts suggest keeping a phone (along with other valuables, like wallets) in a zippered section of a bag or piece of clothing when going through security. They also recommend immediately checking to make sure your valuables are still in those zippered sections when you’re gathering your stuff, just to make sure you don’t accidentally leave without your phone. It’s a mistake you may not realize you’ve made until it’s too late to correct it. Points like these are a reminder that potential damage isn’t the only factor to keep in mind when choosing where (and where not to) keep a phone.
Limit how often you put your phone in your pocket
Keeping your phone in your pocket for long periods of time may involve exposing it to the type of heat that can damage it. Perhaps more importantly, you’re also exposing your body to radio frequency waves, which are technically a form of electromagnetic radiation. It can be difficult to keep your phone easily accessible without tucking it into your pocket, but it’s worth exploring other options, not only for the security of your device, but also for your safety.
Although health experts admit there is still little research and evidence indicating precisely how dangerous this type of radiation can be, there may be reason to believe it could contribute to health problems ranging from infertility to cancer. The goal is to minimize direct exposure to the device. Additionally, using your phone too often in general can be bad for your mental and emotional health. Taking these steps can reduce your exposure to radiation and your phone’s exposure to excessive heat.
You may need to adjust some of your phone usage habits if you haven’t stored it properly. However, these changes are worth it. By following the tips presented here, you will keep yourself and your phone safe.