Other What’s the chances my phone will still work?

[EdShort]

When I moved out of my parents house I left an old iPhone in a box in their garage, where it can get cold, hot etc. and this was 2 years ago, My parents have just found the phone and let me know and I’m wondering after 2 years what’s the likelihood it will still work?

 

[Boyd01]

Don't know about a phone in a garage, but I put a bunch of my old electronics - couple old Macs, a PC, some VCR's - in my attic which is not climate controlled. Unfortunately, it killed them all.

The newer iPhones are water resistant and sealed up a lot better than my old junk though, so you might have a fighting chance.

 

[Phil77354]

Two years is not very long.

Temperatures in a residential garage are not necessarily that high (or that cold). With all respect to @Boyd01's anecdotal evidence (and recognizing that attic temperatures are likely to be more extreme than garage temperatures), here are some actual specs - iPhone 13 Pro operating ambient is 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C), and non operating temperature (which is what applies here) is −4° to 113° F (−20° to 45° C), with relative humidity 5% to 95%.

Connect it to a charger and then try! I'm betting that it works just fine.

 

[JPack]

The battery is probably dead. Deep discharge over two years will kill lithium ion. But the good thing is a replacement battery isn’t expensive.

 

[now i see it]

If the iPhone is a 6 or older, it’s not pleasant to use even if it works fine. It’ll work if the battery isn’t toast, but the old phones are pokey slow to use.

 

[1rottenapple]

Any updates on the status?

 

[Andeddu]

I would say there is a 99% chance the phone will work. The battery may be unreliable though but the phone itself will surely work.

 

[piattj]

When I moved out of my parents house I left an old iPhone in a box in their garage, where it can get cold, hot etc. and this was 2 years ago, My parents have just found the phone and let me know and I’m wondering after 2 years what’s the likelihood it will still work?

charge it. switch it on. go from there

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

Two years is not very long.

Temperatures in a residential garage are not necessarily that high (or that cold). With all respect to @Boyd01's anecdotal evidence (and recognizing that attic temperatures are likely to be more extreme than garage temperatures), here are some actual specs - iPhone 13 Pro operating ambient is 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C), and non operating temperature (which is what applies here) is −4° to 113° F (−20° to 45° C), with relative humidity 5% to 95%.

Connect it to a charger and then try! I'm betting that it works just fine.

Lots of people (myself included) have used iPhones in temperatures well above 95°F, and even above 113°F. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea or anything, but it wouldn’t immediately destroy your phone either.

There’s usually about a week each year where I see temps in the 110-115F range and I haven’t heard of anyone having troubles with their phone unless it’s a prolonged period in direct sunlight. Even then, it just temporarily stops you from using it until it cools down.

I would guess that even if the garage gets to 120F or so the phone would likely be fine.

 

[Phil77354]

Lots of people (myself included) have used iPhones in temperatures well above 95°F, and even above 113°F. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea or anything, but it wouldn’t immediately destroy your phone either.

There’s usually about a week each year where I see temps in the 110-115F range and I haven’t heard of anyone having troubles with their phone unless it’s a prolonged period in direct sunlight. Even then, it just temporarily stops you from using it until it cools down.

I would guess that even if the garage gets to 120F or so the phone would likely be fine.

Agreed! I wasn't suggesting anything regarding temperatures, simply providing iPhone specs so that there was some hopefully useful information included in the discussion.

 

[jav6454]

When I moved out of my parents house I left an old iPhone in a box in their garage, where it can get cold, hot etc. and this was 2 years ago, My parents have just found the phone and let me know and I’m wondering after 2 years what’s the likelihood it will still work?

It'll work. Don't expect great battery life tho.

 

[Danfango]

Found a 5s the other day in the cupboard I forgot I had. Has been in there about 5 years. was dead but revivable with a charger. It’ll probably be fine if it hasn’t been coated in bird crap and damp.

Battery will be of course completely useless.