How to keep your smartphone cool this summer

It’s been that kind of summer that makes you question your life choices. The air feels thick enough to slice, your back sticks to cab seats, and every step feels like a slow roast. And just when you think it can’t get worse; your phone buzzes, flashes a heat warning, and dies.

Classic.

We don’t often talk about it, but your smartphone is just as sweaty, tired, and irritable as you are this season. And unlike you, it can’t chug coconut water or hide under a ceiling fan.

Overheating is the silent killer of phones – draining battery life, slowing performance, and if you’re really unlucky, cooking the hardware itself. So, this summer, let’s keep our phones cool, calm, and collected, like the main character in a Christopher Nolan movie.

Your phone is not a sunbather, keep it in the shade

Yes, we’re starting with the obvious. But you’d be surprised how many of us treat our phones like solar panels – left on café tables, car dashboards, or next to windows for that “perfect lighting.” Just don’t.

ALSO READ: Slim is in: How smartphones are getting thinner without sacrificing power

If your phone’s out in the sun, it’s essentially baking. Keep it in your bag, flip it screen-down, or better yet, leave it in the shade with a smug smile that says, “I read that article on keeping my phone cool.”

Lose the case (temporarily)

Look, we get it. You paid good money for that grippy, rugged case. But thick cases trap heat like a winter jacket on a beach day. So, if you’re at home, chilling, or gaming for long hours, take it off.

Let your phone breathe. Especially if it’s a glass-back or metal phone, which is designed to radiate heat. Hot tip: switch to a slim, breathable case in summer. Or, if you’re brave, go commando (the phone, not you!).

Don’t multitask like you’re trying to win a trophy

Your phone isn’t built for heatwaves and heavy lifting at the same time. Turn off background apps. Close Instagram while navigating through Maps. Avoid playing Spotify, recording videos, and running a hotspot simultaneously. Also, lower your screen brightness and switch to dark mode. It’s easier on the eyes and the thermals.

Charging? Give your phone some room to breathe

Don’t charge your phone while it’s covered by your duvet or lying under a cushion. It’s not cozy, it’s a fire hazard. Charging generates heat. Combine that with an already-warm summer body temp and boom: emergency shutdown.

Charge your phone on a flat, cool surface. Skip wireless chargers for now; they tend to run hotter. And maybe, just maybe, take a break from doom-scrolling while it’s juicing up.

Get a clip-on cooler

Yes, these exist. Originally made for gaming phones, snap-on coolers are now a whole category. They work like mini-AC units for your phone, and if you’re shooting 4K videos or gaming for hours, they’re absolutely worth it. No cooler? No problem. Just place your phone near a fan, AC vent, or chilled surface. Just don’t put it in the fridge. That’s a short trip to Moisture Town.

Time to upgrade?

There are apps that monitor phone temperature (AIDA64, CPU-Z, and more) but let’s be real, most of us aren’t going to babysit our processor stats. Still, if your phone is frequently heating up during basic tasks, it might be time for a software update… or a new phone. PSA: Mid-range chipsets, especially older processors, don’t always play nice with Indian summers.

Game smarter, not hotter

If your phone heats up like a toaster every time you boot up BGMI and Genshin Impact, simply reduce the graphics settings. Or switch to efficiency mode instead of performance mode.

ALSO READ: Best mobile puzzle games you can check out

Sure, you won’t see every blade of digital grass, but your phone will thank you in this sweltering heat. And you won’t get booted mid-match.

Plan ahead and buy cool, literally

If you’re looking to upgrade this summer, pick a phone with robust, built-in cooling features like vapour chambers or graphite sheets. Phones like the OnePlus 13, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are built for the heat. Bonus points if you get one with AI-powered thermal control. That’s not marketing fluff anymore, it actually works.

Final thoughts

Look, your phone isn’t going to melt into a puddle tomorrow. But if it’s constantly overheating, you’re not just risking a shutdown, you’re slowly frying your battery and throttling its lifespan. Treat your phone like you would a good summer cocktail. Keep it shaded, cool, and away from unnecessary heat.

Because let’s face it, the only thing worse than a dead phone in 40-degree heat… is trying to survive summer without your playlist, maps, texts, or memes.