Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Ways of iPhones

What’s this? Suddenly, you’re getting a weak signal, your display dims or goes black, your flash fails, or your iPhone stops charging!

What’s going on?

Your iPhone doesn’t enjoy summer as much as you do, that’s what.

According to Apple, optimum temperature for iPhone operation runs between 32-95 degrees. The magic number for when an iPhone can start to have real problems? 113 degrees.

But wait! It isn’t just the temperature.

Sunlight can also affect your iPhone. Think of how hot your car gets in the summer when the sun hits your windows. That’s right, the glass screen acts like a miniature windshield and soaks up the heat right into your iPhone.

So, how can you avoid the black warning screen?

Prevention is the first step. There are the obvious preventative measures, like never leaving your iPhone in the hot car or sunlight, but there are other ways to keep that phone cool. Here are some things that contribute to the temperature of your iPhone:

• Games
• Bluetooth
• Location services and map directions 
• Charging
• Background app refresh

So, avoid these on a hot day.

Okay, but what if this isn’t enough?

If you need to be able to take calls, turn your iPhone on Airplane Mode and remove the case.  If you don’t need to take calls, turn the iPhone off and remove the case anyway. Some people suggest putting it in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes (people who have never seen the inside of my refrigerator, obviously), or putting it in front of a fan.

An overheated iPhone might result in battery damage, screen lifting and even screen breakage. So, do yourself a favor—keep your iPhone out of the heat and have a cool summer.

Got a crazy story about breaking your phone?

Just when we think we've heard them all here at Screen Repair Plus, someone tells us another story and we're floored.

Some are horror stories, some are funny, and some are just plain amazing. 

What about yours?

We are looking for your stories. We're offering $50 to the person who can tell us the best broken phone yarn in under 1000 words.

How to enter:

Email us info@screenrepairplus, post on our facebook page, or use the hashtag #ScreenRepairPlusStory on your instagram or twitter post with your story.

 

Details: We promise to not sell, rent, or pass your email or other information on to anyone. All submissions become the property of Screen Repair Plus. Winning submission is chosen at the sole discretion of Screen Repair Plus. Contest winner will be notified by email. Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States. No purchase is necessary to win. Contest is not open to the employees, family members or spouses of Screen Repair Plus or its affiliates. No entry may infringe on the intellectual property, privacy, publicity rights or ownership of another party. 

Advice from an iPhone tech

How I feel when I break my phone.

Making a living repairing iPhones gives a technician a unique perspective on phone problems and how to avoid them.  Here at Screen Repair Plus, we're happy to help you each and every time you have a problem with your phone.

But, maybe you don't want another cellphone repair bill.

Well, step right up. Because I did a little snooping and casually asked the screen Repair Plus Senior Tech (who also happens to be my son), what kind of problems they encounter most frequently and how to avoid them. I'm going to share that information with you because during the first three months I owned an iPhone, I broke it so often I became the go-to for repair practice, back before Screen Repair Plus was a business. I was his first 'customer'. And his second. And his third.

*Sigh*

You get the idea.

He told me that if I wanted my phone to live longer, I needed to get a high quality case. A good case is like a magic protection spell. I've dropped my phone many times since then, but never broke it.

At the same time I got the high quality case, he paired it with a screen protector.
"What's this?" I asked.
"A tempered glass screen protector," he said.
"Like the glass they use for car windshields?"
"Exactly! It absorbs the shock of impact."
"So, if my phone gets hit by a pigeon going sixty miles an hour, it won't break?"

That kid has the greatest laugh.

But, seriously, after you spend a gazillion dollars on an iPhone, a few extra bucks for a decent screen protector is better than shelling out for a repair. Sometimes, that little bit of extra glass can make the difference.
In our family, we don't roll our eyes. But, I swear, I think I saw my son's peepers do a little bit of elevator action when he saw my charger.
"What is this?" he asked when he saw my charger.
"Don't judge me. I lost the charger that came with my phone and this one was only a dollar."
"Mom. Please. I fix phones all day. I promise you that you don't want to use a cheesy charger or cord. Even if it doesn't cause a fire, it can wreck your phone."

I don't want to buy an Apple charger. They're expensive and flimsy. But, I don't want a bad cord to create a problem with my battery or charging port, either, especially on that's full of pocket lint.

You can click here for our last blog post on the effects of heat on your phone. Bottom line, though, is if you live in one of THOSE states, don't leave your iPhone in the car during the summer. Same goes with putting it through the washing machine, dunking it in the swimming pool, or dropping it in the lake.

I hope this has answered some of your questions and that some of these tips may save you problems. But, if you are in the Metro Phoenix area and have an iPhone with a cracked screen, speaker issues, charging port problems, a bad battery, button problems or any other type of repair, call iPhone Screen Repair Plus at 480-781-0060

Talk on.

Big thanks to Trudemeister for this blog entry. Trudemeister is the author of Rings in Time (2015).