Why Some Phones Overheat More Than Others

If you’ve experienced your phone get abnormally warm at some point, you’re not alone. Overheating is an issue which is very common but it doesn’t affect all phones in the same way or to the same degree. Some phones stay cool even on heavy use, while others become almost too hot to touch after a short period of gaming or video recording. Why does that happen?

This article looks in detail at the issues which cause some phones to overheat more so than others. We look at the elements and situations that contribute to this very common issue. From the choice of processor to poor thermal design and user behavior, many variables are listed below.

1. Processor Type and Performance.

In terms of which phones tend to overheat the most, it is due to the processor also known as the chipset. The processor is the brain of the phone and it is in charge of all computing functions from running applications to operating the camera and to manage wireless connections.

Some phones have high performance chips which are powerful but not always power efficient. These processors tend to generate a lot of heat in heavy tasks like gaming, multitasking, or video rendering. Also, some chips are designed using better manufacturing processes which in turn make them run cooler and use less power.

For instance, we see that phones which have chips made using smaller nanometer processes (think 4nm or 5nm) do better in terms of efficiency and also produce less heat as opposed to older processes like 10nm or 14nm. Efficiency is a concern — if the processor has to run at full tilt for a long time it will in all likelihood generate more heat.

2. Thermal Engineering and Internal Design.

In terms of design elements, one very important is how well the phone manages heat. What we see in well designed phones is the use of heat pipes, thermal paste, graphite sheets, or even vapor chambers which improve heat dissipation.

Budget and mid-range phones may also be found to lack these cooling elements. Also, they may be made from lower quality materials which do not conduct heat well. As a result there are hot spots on the phone’s body which tend to develop around the processor and battery areas.

Flagship models, on the other hand, are often designed with thermal issues in mind. Their internal structure is put forth to disperse heat away from key components. Also, some come with what is called software-based thermal controls which if the phone gets too hot will reduce performance, all of which is done to avoid long term damage.

3. Battery Capacity and Charging Time.

Batteries within smartphones are a cause of heat. We see that larger batteries, which in turn store more energy, are the issue. Also, when the charging or discharging happens fast, which it does in the case of fast charging that delivers great amounts of power in a short time frame, we see this heat production increase.

Phones that support 65W or even 100W charging generate more heat in comparison to phones that support slower speeds like 18W or 25W. If there is not enough put in place for heat dissipation, the temperature may rise greatly which in turn may make the phone feel warm or at time very hot to the touch.

Some producers separate the battery into two smaller cells to better manage it, which is not the case in all phone models. Also, we see that poor charging practices, which include the use of non-certified chargers or charging in hot settings, both of which make the issue worse.

4. Screen Brightness and Refresh Rate.

Your mobile’s screen may also be producing more heat than what you may have noticed. High brightness settings and quick refresh rates draw more power, which in turn raises the internal temperature.

Phones that have very bright displays or high refresh rate screens (up to 120Hz or 144Hz) use more battery and processing power. If you are outside and your screen is at full brightness, or you’re into gaming which has you maxing out the refresh rate, expect your phone to heat up. Also, note that AMOLED displays which we sometimes see in some phones may generate more heat as compared to LCD screens.

5. Background Tasks and Software Optimization.

Unnoticed software can play a key role both in causing and solving overheating issues. Also, some applications’ or operating systems’ poor design may cause the processor to run in the background constantly which in turn uses up resources and increases heat production.

Phones with simpler, more efficient software tend to run cooler as they are not using power for non essential processes. Also, I have seen some which come loaded with a lot of pre installed apps or modified skins that put more stress on the hardware.

Also certain background tasks like sync processes, location tracking, or constant notifications may contribute to the issue which is made worse when you have many apps open at the same time. If the phone does not have strong RAM management it may have trouble with all of these at the same time.

6. Environmental factors which present themselves.

Sometimes, it’s not the phone but the environment. In a very hot car or in the full sun, phone temperature goes up greatly. Also because electronic devices produce their own heat, adding in the external heat may cause them to fail.

Phones have a temperature range in which they function best. When used out of that range, which is often in hot conditions, they may overheat at a fast rate, shut down applications, dim the screen, or turn off to avoid hardware damage.

Some phone models do better in extreme temperatures which is a fact. In the field of manufacturing tough devices we see that often what is put into them for protection against heat is of a better quality. What you find in mass produced consumer phones don’t always include the same level of heat-resistant features, and as a result they will heat up faster in the same conditions.

7. Network Usage and Connectivity.

As your phone looks for a signal in poor reception areas it uses more power to do so which in turn causes heat. Mobile data, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth all play a role.

Phones that change between networks or antennas constantly do put out more heat than phones which have stable connections. That’s why your phone might get hot during long video calls or while tethering to another device.

In fact, when you enable multiple wireless features at the same time (for example using Bluetooth earbuds while on mobile data and GPS) you put more stress on the hardware which in turn causes faster overheating.

8. Phone Age and Use.

Older phones are a greater risk for overheating as their components have worn out over time. Batteries have diminished efficiency, thermal paste has dried up, and also software updates may not be tuned for today’s aging hardware.

Also, over time we see that the materials used in the body, and the dust and grime that accumulates on it, may affect performance of the structure’s breathability and insulating quality. Also, over time, minor wear and tear can affect how well the heat is managed.

If your one time reliable phone has started to overheat a great deal, it may be time for a new battery or a good cleaning.

9. Case and also Accessory Use.

Your phone case may also be a factor. Thick, rugged, or poor quality cases which don’t allow for proper air flow will in fact retain heat. Also, some materials like rubber and plastic are insulative which means they do not let the heat out.

In such cases when you use them for gaming or charging you see an increase in the device’s heat. Also, we see that putty or metal used in mounting points may play a role in how heat is emitted from the device.

While protective cases are a must, what you also need is one that also allows for air flow which is an issue if your phone tends to overheat.

10. User Practices and Multitasking.

Also in large part what we see is that users’ actions which include leaving too many apps open at once, using your phone while it’s charging, playing games for very long stretches of time, or recording in 4K video are very demanding and generate heat.

Phones are designed for many tasks, but in some cases, they may break under the stress of high performance use. Also, some users may accidentally overuse their phones which does not give them a break to cool down which in turn causes issues with over heating.

Knowing your phone’s issues and changing how you use it may greatly improve performance.

Conclusion

While any phone may experience overheating in the right environment, some devices overheat more than others as a result of design, hardware, software issues and also how they are used. From the type of processor used to the way in which you use apps and accessories many variables play a role in how much your phone may heat up.

Many of these issues can be addressed — they give you the info you need to make better choices as you buy that new device or use your current one. Also, if you are seeing a lot of heat up and it is a large scale issue that is repeated, that may lead to serious damage down the road — so pay attention to your phone’s temperature and take care to keep it cool.