This is a reminder for everyone: keep your devices away from direct sunlight because they can go boom

Jun 21, 2017 06:08 GMT  ·  By
This is the notification you see on an iPhone when the device gets hot
3 photos
   This is the notification you see on an iPhone when the device gets hot

It’s been a while since we heard about a phone going boom, but this time we’re getting pretty close, as an iPhone got melted completed after the owner left it in direct sunlight for nearly one hour.

A report from CornwallLive and photos posted by David Gilmore on Facebook reveal the aftermath of this incident, with the iPhone melting beyond the point where it can be repaired. The screen got so hot that it even melted the connectors, making it impossible to clean the internals and replace them with new ones.

According to Gilmore, who is a phone repair specialist, the owner of the phone left it on her bag in direct sunlight for nearly one hour.

“It was a girl who had been out walking, had stopped for lunch, and the phone was on the top of her bag. The sun was strong enough to heat up the screen so much it melted the screen connectors,” he posted.

Operating temperatures for smartphones

Apple hasn’t yet issued a statement on this incident, but this is by no means a phone defect, and it’s all caused by simply letting the phone in direct sunlight.

Apple itself provides guidelines on the operating temperatures for its iPhones, explaining that devices need to be stored in places where device temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). The company specifically notes that you should avoid leaving phones in cars, or “in direct sunlight for an extended period of time.”

Other device manufacturers provide similar guidelines, recommending customers to avoid using phones and tablets in direct sunlight. Samsung, for instance, emphasizes that continued use in direct sunlight could lead to overheating and recommends disconnecting the phone charger and closing apps and not using the device for a while.

Eventually, “If the phone is still overheated or hot, you should contact Samsung,” the South Korean firm says given the Note 7 fiasco when smartphones burst into flames due to overheating.

Photo Gallery (3 Images)

This is the notification you see on an iPhone when the device gets hot
What the iPhone looks like after getting meltedWhat the iPhone looks like after getting melted
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