A cold spell hit last weekend, and people who are used to warm winters found themselves struggling with the harsh weather. It's tough to endure the freezing wind and step outside — so why not share a post on social media? Many people were surprised to find that their phones shut down after just a few uses, even though they had plenty of Battery left. Is it really that hard for adults to deal with cold phones? Actually, it's not just smartphones — any electronic device that uses lithium batteries can face similar issues in the cold.
**The Problem: Phones Freeze and Shut Down**
Last week, Ms. Chen was driving when she accidentally hit the car in front of her. The other driver pulled out his phone to take photos as evidence. After taking a few shots, the phone suddenly turned off. He was confused because the battery still had power. When he brought it to a 4S shop and warmed it up, the phone came back to life. He realized it had frozen and shut down due to the cold.
I spoke with several friends, and many reported that during the coldest days, using a phone outdoors felt like the battery drained faster than usual. Miss Li, who lives in a place where winter temperatures often drop below -20°C, said it’s common for phones to shut down in the cold. “When I go back home in winter, my phone becomes very slow. Sometimes I call someone outside, and the phone turns off,†she said. “But we still have to make calls. It’s not that the phone is broken — our hands and ears just can’t handle the cold.â€
It’s not just phones. A photojournalist shared that during a shoot in the cold, his camera also lost power much faster than usual. Even a professional SLR camera used in Antarctica experienced similar issues.
**Electric Cars Also Suffer in the Cold**
Phones aren't the only ones affected. Electric cars also struggle in the cold. Many EV owners reported a significant drop in range during the recent freeze. For example, a taxi driver in Beijing told me that his electric car, which claims a 200 km range, usually only manages about 150–160 km under normal conditions. But when it gets colder, especially if the heater is on, the range drops to around 100 km. “If you don’t use the heater, it’s too cold inside. If you do, the range plummets. I just wear more clothes and try to avoid using the heater when there are no passengers,†he said.
According to some online forums, many electric car users complain about reduced mileage in winter. Some reports suggest that the range can drop by as much as 30% in extreme cold. This isn’t just an issue with domestic models — even Tesla vehicles in Norway have faced similar problems.
**Why Lithium Batteries Are Sensitive to Cold**
The real culprit behind all these issues is the Lithium Battery. These batteries work by moving ions between the positive and negative electrodes through a chemical reaction. In the cold, this process slows down, reducing the battery’s ability to charge and discharge efficiently. At zero degrees Celsius, a lithium battery may lose up to 20% of its capacity. At -10°C, it could be down to just half.
Apple states that iPhones operate best between 16°C and 22°C, and can function in temperatures from 0°C to 35°C. Other phones and cameras have similar limits. Below or above those ranges, performance can suffer.
Interestingly, iPhones tend to shut down more easily in the cold. Some say it’s not because they’re worse than Android phones, but because Apple has built-in low-temperature protection. If the phone gets too cold, it automatically shuts down to prevent damage. Other manufacturers may not have such strict protections, making their devices less sensitive to the cold.
**Can Phones Be More Cold-Resistant?**
While it's possible to make phones more resistant to cold, it comes with trade-offs. Using special materials or insulation could make phones thicker, heavier, and more expensive — which goes against the current trend for slim, lightweight designs. Plus, cold resistance is a niche need for most users, who might only experience it a few days a year.
The better solution lies in battery innovation. Researchers are already developing low-temperature batteries that perform well in the cold. While it may take time for these technologies to reach the market, companies like Huawei are already experimenting with new battery formulas to prevent rapid voltage drops in cold environments.
**Tips for Staying Warm and Keeping Your Devices Working**
If you're heading into the cold, here are some tips to keep your devices running:
1. **Keep your phone close to your body** or store it in a thermal bag to maintain warmth.
2. **Use a thick phone case** — more layers mean slower cooling.
3. **Don’t turn your phone on immediately when coming indoors**. Let it warm up gradually to avoid damaging internal components.
4. **For larger devices like cameras**, remove the battery and keep it warm in your pocket before use.
One person in the northeast used a baby warmer on her phone, and it worked — but experts warn this method is risky. Too much heat can damage the phone, and temperature control is hard to manage.
In short, while cold weather can be tough on electronics, there are ways to protect your devices — and future tech may soon make it easier to stay connected, no matter how cold it gets.
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