Stay cool this summer by protecting your phone

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Heat, water and sand are a vacationer’s best friends, but the same isn’t true for your cell phone.

Summer holidays are typically a high-risk time for electronic devices. Here are a few tips for keeping your precious companion working properly while you put your feet up and relax.

Mobile phones are just like you (and me) in that they find it hard to perform their best in extreme temperatures. All suppliers recommend keeping devices out of temperatures exceeding 35°C. Otherwise, the battery life could be permanently reduced.

Fortunately, the mercury rarely rises above this point in Quebec. But don’t forget that devices can quickly overheat if they are left inside a car or on a sunny pool deck.

IP what?

Most mobile devices are resistant to liquids and solid substances like dust or sand—to a certain degree. It’s just hard to know exactly how much they can withstand.

There’s a strong chance that your phone can handle getting wet if a sudden rainstorm strikes on your walk home. But will it survive a plunge into the toilet bowl (it happens to the best of us) or a cool dip in the pool?

To find out, check your device’s ingress protection (IP) rating. Issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission, this rating indicates a device’s environmental protection from:

• Solid object ingress
• Water ingress (does not apply to all liquids)

Many of the more popular recent devices offer maximum protection (IP6) against solids. Where water is concerned, these phones usually offer at least IP7 rating, which indicates that the device can survive immersion in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes.

Scuba divers who can’t stand to be separated from their phone will appreciate IP8 protection, which the Samsung Galaxy S10 offers. If your device doesn’t meet the latest standards, consider getting a high-quality protective case for it.

 

There are also accessories that offer advanced protection for your phone by covering its various access ports. This prevents sand, dust and water from getting in. There are even touch films to seal your device off from the elements. We all know that phones should be kept far away from the pool or beach, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. Despite your best efforts to keep your mobile device out of danger, there’s always a possibility that something could happen.

If you’re absent-minded or clumsy, additional protection might be worth considering.