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Can cold affect an iPhone's battery life?

A

AceC

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 10, 2013
98
1
I've had an iPhone 5S for a few weeks, and the past few days, the battery percentage seems to go down faster. For example, it may go down 2-4% in an hour or so, without even being used, which isn't normal for me.

It has been pretty cold where I live the past few days; even when I'm inside, it's still colder than usual. Could that effect my iPhone's battery?
 
mentaluproar

mentaluproar

macrumors 68000
May 25, 2010
1,774
224
Ohio, USA
While cold temperatures can adversely affect a battery, I wouldn't worry much. I doubt Apple ships iPhones in a temperature controlled environment.

From Apple's website:
"Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)"
http://www.apple.com/iphone-5s/specs/

Also, am I the only one who had grandparents that stored batteries in the refrigerator "to keep them fresh longer?"
 
C

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
I'm out in the elements in sub zero degree weather with my phone in a holster on my belt. I've never noticed a difference to be honest.

I know the flow of electrons slow blah blah. I've noticed with other tools the don't work as well like the battery is dead/dying but as soon as they warm up they are fine.
 
iPodJedi

iPodJedi

macrumors 6502a
Nov 28, 2013
711
0
Apple Store, USA
mentaluproar said:
Maybe if you lend it to Mr. Freeze. While it will run down a battery, I highly doubt cold will take a fully charged battery and maim it that fast.
Click to expand...

The cold can easily drain your battery in less than 30 minutes...
I've learned to keep my electronics protected in the cold after going up north(of my state) and my old dumb-phone (samsung intensity 2-slide phone) lost all of its battery after less than 30 minutes and so did my iPod touch. Now I keep my new iphone in a soft cloth sleeve to keep it warm and it is always in a warm place like a backpack or pocket.
 
C

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
iPodJedi said:
The cold can easily drain your battery in less than 30 minutes...
I've learned to keep my electronics protected in the cold after going up north(of my state) and my old dumb-phone (samsung intensity 2-slide phone) lost all of its battery after less than 30 minutes and so did my iPod touch. Now I keep my new iphone in a soft cloth sleeve to keep it warm and it is always in a warm place like a backpack or pocket.
Click to expand...
The Doctor11 said:
Cold kills battery heat permanently damages battery life.
Click to expand...
In general, the cold doesn't really drain or kill or damage the battery, it mainly makes less of its capacity actually useful as the chemical reaction in it slows down. When the battery warms up it should be back to its usual self. If it happens very often and on an more or less prolonged basis, that can likely affect the overall battery health, but that's likely not a typical scenario for the vast majority.
 
iPodJedi

iPodJedi

macrumors 6502a
Nov 28, 2013
711
0
Apple Store, USA
C DM said:
In general, the cold doesn't really drain or kill or damage the battery, it mainly makes less of its capacity actually useful as the chemical reaction in it slows down. When the battery warms up it should be back to its usual self. If it happens very often and on an more or less prolonged basis, that can likely affect the overall battery health, but that's likely not a typical scenario for the vast majority.
Click to expand...

That proves nothing from what I said. It is essentially draining the capacity then... Actually after maybe 5 times of the battery getting too cold- it will start becoming weaker and probably shortens it's lifespan and degrades the capacity
 
C

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
iPodJedi said:
That proves nothing from what I said. It is essentially draining the capacity then... Actually after maybe 5 times of the battery getting too cold- it will start becoming weaker and probably shortens it's lifespan and degrades the capacity
Click to expand...
It's possible, but it sounds like we'd need some more actual data to know if that's really the case as far as how soon any noticeable/longlasting effects might start playing a role.

Edit: Looking through some available info on this, often not much is mentioned about any permanent effects at all, which doesn't really say much one way or another. One of the recent articles does go into it and it seems like for the most part they are saying there shouldn't be anything longlasting, short of perhaps some really extreme cases and/or cheap/bad batteries to begin with: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/is-the-cold-weather-battering-your-smartphone-battery/
 
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M

Mrbobb

macrumors 603
Aug 27, 2012
5,009
209
Do you wear it with a clip so it's away from your body? IF it's in your pocket, that actually keeps it reasonably warm. Your body if a 98 degree heater.
 
T

ToyGun1

macrumors 6502
Oct 13, 2012
260
0
Yes cold affected my ipad 4 and iphone 5s battery life.
Both device had over 80% battery life after two days on standby I was down to 40% Battery life.
 
P

photographer86

macrumors newbie
Oct 12, 2009
19
3
Lithium ion batteries that are in our phone may be a polymor also either way are not as subject to cold temps as ni-cd or ni-mh batteries. If you leave your phone is 0 degrees for a hours sure as in other have stated that it will bring the capacity down.

4 percent seems a bit much. I work for AAA doung road side service for car batteries. Now granted those are lead acid and as you all know the cca cold cracking amps go down as tempeture decreses.

I would make sure you have installed a new app or have something that is running in the background new that could be draining it more then just temps since you're not leaving it out side for hours at times. :). Hope this helps.
 
R

RoboWarriorSr

macrumors 6502a
Feb 23, 2013
889
52
A bit off topic but does that mean those with Nissan Leaf on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States are pretty much unable to use them?
 
mentaluproar

mentaluproar

macrumors 68000
May 25, 2010
1,774
224
Ohio, USA
Can cold affect an iPhone's battery life?

Electric cars do NOT like the cold. Homemade ones are particularly vulnerable to the cold. Manufactured ones have systems to keep the batteries warm.
 
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P

photographer86

macrumors newbie
Oct 12, 2009
19
3
Electrical cars will loose almost half there capacity in cold tempatures. Basing the temp off of 0 degrees say. In the artic they have battery warmer on all cars to keep them warm so that won't loose freeze and have cold cranking amps. Example diesials have oil heater units pluged into ac out let. Same goes for a lead acid battery with a heater. :).
 
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