New Delhi: As temperatures soar past 40°C in many parts of India, experts are sounding an urgent warning: leaving your smartphone under direct sunlight – even for 15-20 minutes – can cause irreversible damage worth thousands of rupees.
Mobile repair chains and service centres report a 40% spike in heat-related complaints every summer: swollen batteries, discoloured screens, sudden shutdowns, and, in extreme cases, complete motherboard failures. “Most users think the phone is just ‘hot’. Actually, the lithium-ion battery has already started degrading permanently,” says Rohan Shivkumar, head technician at a leading authorised facility in Delhi.
What happens inside? When the device crosses 45°C, the battery’s chemical balance collapses, gas builds up and the delicate layers inside warp. Displays develop permanent yellow patches or black spots, processors throttle to protect themselves, and adhesives that hold the screen melt. Apple, Samsung and Google officially state 35°C as the maximum safe operating temperature — any higher voids warranty claims for heat damage.
Real-life horror stories abound: a Gurugram executive lost his ₹1.2 lakh foldable after leaving it on the car dashboard; a Mumbai student’s phone exploded in her bag after a beach outing.
Quick rescue tips:
Never leave phones in parked cars or on two-wheeler seats.
Use light-coloured cases; black ones absorb more heat.
Turn off Bluetooth, GPS and 5G when they are not needed.
If the phone shows a “temperature warning,” switch it off and move to the shade immediately.
This summer, that innocent dash under the sun for a quick selfie could cost you a lot more than sunburn. Your phone needs shade as much as you do.