iPhone in Cold Weather

[dudewheresmymac]

Hey,

I'm looking into buying an iphone now that my verizon contract is up. The only problem that im worried about is the phone's performance in cold weather. I have a friend whose iphone screen cracked when i pulled it out to make a call on a cold winter day. Is this a common occurance? And, if it were to happen to me, would apple replace the phone under warrenty?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[SRSound]

I havent had any problems (down to 15° F) EXCEPT i find if my fingers are frozen solid, the touch screen doesnt respond as well. Not sure why.

 

[juanster]

yeah when it's really really cold, i a couple instances i ve left my touch in my car (-15 celsius) while i trained wheni came out and used it, it wasn t as responsive, still worked though... i ve walked around using it and jogging at those temperatures and its fine.

 

[joejoejoe]

Keep in mind if you wear gloves you'll need to take them off in order to use the phone's interface

And trust me, if iPhones were regularly breaking due to cold weather it would be ALL over the news.

 

[juanster]

ahhahah yeah very true i actually cut off the tip of the right hand glove off so i can stick out the tip of my index and use my touch....

 

[sportlouis]

northface e-tip glove... works with iphone/touch perfectly!!!!

 

[wPod]

northface e-tip glove... works with iphone/touch perfectly!!!!

<-- i need to find me some of those.

the only problem i have with the iPhone in cold (0-15F coldest) is i dont want to take my hands out of my gloves to operate it! coldest ive had it was signle digits, it sat all day in my jeep while i was skiing. the LCD was slow to respond, but it still functioned. have never noticed any deformation b/w the glass and aluminum exterior.

 

[juanster]

<-- i need to find me some of those.

the only problem i have with the iPhone in cold (0-15F coldest) is i dont want to take my hands out of my gloves to operate it! coldest ive had it was signle digits, it sat all day in my jeep while i was skiing. the LCD was slow to respond, but it still functioned. have never noticed any deformation b/w the glass and aluminum exterior.

yeah less responsive and not so bright but still works fine,and as soon as it warms up it goes back to normal...

 

[kdarling]

I havent had any problems (down to 15° F) EXCEPT i find if my fingers are frozen solid, the touch screen doesnt respond as well. Not sure why.

Others say the same. One theory about cold fingers is this:

Capacitive screens work because your body is a large enough capacitor that it can draw off charge from the touch screen.

But you're not as conductive when your surface blood vessels constrict in the cold. Some people are more affected this way. Thus you won't draw off enough charge to be noticed.

This is related to why some people feel the need to "press harder" at times and that actually works. It has nothing to do with the screen, but it thins out their skin's insulation.

 

[Gitgat]

I have taken my iphone snowmobiling several times, and its been cold, with temps at or below zero Fahrenheit,
it usually sits in an outside pocket on my chest, cause i keep one earphone in to hear it ring just in case

with 100+mph winds pelting my jacket the phone gets COLD, well below the suggested temps, and it still functions fine. i turn it off though when i go inside until it warms up, as it is metal and tends to attract condensation.

but it works fine in the cold. as good as any phone, the LCD slows down when it gets that cold but other than that its fine.

and walking between classes even with sub zero temps it functions perfectly normal for those short bits

 

[drb6]

I have taken my iphone snowmobiling several times, and its been cold, with temps at or below zero Fahrenheit,
it usually sits in an outside pocket on my chest, cause i keep one earphone in to hear it ring just in case

you're a brave soul! hope you got that extra warranty from apple...although I'm sure you protect it well

 

[Gitgat]

i protect it, when i ride i keep it in http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...phone/iphone_accessories/cases&nplm=TP450ZM/A

but i also shoot for a snowmobiling magazine on the side so i have my dSLR and some expensive lenses on my back in its case, so my phone is the least of my worries.

Its all insured and if i was to crash i'm more worried about my sled and my body cause at those speeds its gonna hurt.

 

[rayward]

FWIW, here's the "Environmental requirements" from Apple:

* Operating 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
* Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

 

[Quillz]

I always thought most electronics devices would function better in cold weather because there wouldn't be any overheating.

 

[gauchogolfer]

I always thought most electronics devices would function better in cold weather because there wouldn't be any overheating.

Liquid crystals don't like it so much.