How Bad is Cold Weather for iPhone 16 Devices?

We know that extreme heat is bad for the new iPhone 16. Anything from using your device in direct sunlight or leaving it in the car to utilising GPS tracking can cause it to work overtime – hence triggering a sudden increase in its interior temperature.

The iPhone 16's app performance may also become reduced in unusually hot conditions. This means that you can't properly enjoy the iPhone 16's range of upgraded features, including the new Apple Intelligence AI platform. Wireless charging often slows or stops, the Super Retina XDR display dims, and you'll see the "Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down" warning.

But what happens when the winter months roll around? Does the iPhone 16 have a similar reaction to cold weather as in high-temperature conditions? Keep reading as we explore how to keep your iPhone 16 running smoothly as those freezing temperatures hit.

What is the Ideal Temperature for an iPhone?

Before we explain exactly how the iPhone 16 fares in the colder months, you may be wondering what temperatures are best for optimal performance.

Apple suggests that the ambient temperature for using an iPhone should be between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius. However, the devices can safely be stored in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius. The iPhone 16 is also built to survive in storage conditions all the way up to 45 degrees Celsius.

Anything outside of these ranges and the phone's normal operations may begin to slow down or stop to help regulate its temperature, as we'll explain in the next section.

How Do Cold Temperatures Affect iPhones?

The iPhone 16 uses lithium ion batteries, which is a much newer technology compared with other battery types.

Lithium is also the lightest metal, so batteries built with this material have a higher power density. This means they have a longer battery life and charge faster than other devices of the same size.

However, lithium ion is much more sensitive to cold weather than alkaline batteries. Your iPhone 16 battery and device may therefore be affected in the following ways:

Temporarily Shorten Battery Life

Freezing temperatures reduce the battery's ability to hold power. Your iPhone 16 will run out of charge much more quickly in cold conditions, no longer supporting up to 22 hours of video playback.

This is because the battery has high impedance, which means it can no longer deliver sufficient power to your iPhone 16. Chemical reactions within the battery slow or stop, so the device won't have the necessary current to continue operating.

Your iPhone will therefore begin running out of battery, while also slowing down its refresh rate and app performance.

Battery impedance naturally increases as lithium ion batteries age, but also becomes temporarily higher in colder weather. The battery life will only return to normal once the lithium ion reaches its recommended operating temperature.

Unexpected Shutdown

Modern smartphones like the iPhone 16 have performance management features to keep them working through all temperatures. These features consider factors such as the device's temperature and phone battery impedance to balance workloads. This helps to prevent unexpected shutdowns and ensures a smooth, continual performance.

When temperatures are outside of your iPhone 16's normal operating range, you may notice:

• Lower speaker volumes
• Frame reduction rates in some apps
• Disabled camera flash
• Longer app launch times
• Less smooth scrolling
• Backlight dimming
• Background apps will no longer automatically refresh.

However, when the iPhone 16 is exposed to extreme freezing temperatures over an extended period, its operations can't be supported by the power management system.

Instead, your device will shut itself down to preserve the battery performance, and won't switch on again until it reaches a normal operating temperature. This also protects the iPhone's other electrical components from damage, including the power circuits and internal storage.

Every device after the iPhone 8, including the 16, features advanced hardware and software designs that allow iOS to anticipate and avoid these shutdowns where possible.

Slow or No Charging

Another performance management feature offered by the iPhone 16 is reduced charging capabilities. In extreme cold conditions, a message may appear on the Lock Screen saying "Charging On Hold. Charging will resume when iPhone 16 returns to normal temperature."

If in cold weather for prolonged periods, This message means that you won't be able to power up your device while it's still exposed to such low temperatures. It may therefore shut down when you need it the most, such as when using Apple Maps on a car mount to safely navigate your journey.

A huge benefit of investing in the iPhone 16 is that it powers up to 50% in around 30 minutes. Speeds can often be even faster with a 25W MagSafe wireless charger!

However, the device takes much longer to charge in cold weather. This is a huge inconvenience if you're in a hurry to get out of the house or need to use your phone on the go.

Battery Fire

Cold temperatures cause electrolytes, the fluids within lithium ion batteries, to thicken. This makes the ions move slower, preventing them from properly inserting into the battery's electrodes.

Instead, lithium builds up on the surface, something that can cause the battery to short-circuit during charging. As well as shutting your iPhone 16 down, short-circuiting also poses a serious risk of battery fire.

How to Protect Your iPhone 16 from Cold Temperatures

Thankfully, cold weather is only temporarily bad for cell phones like the iPhone 16. However, there are plenty of steps that you can take to keep your iPhone warm, protected, and working optimally throughout freezing weather.

Make the most of the super-fast A18 chip and immersive vertical camera lens set up at all times by following these tips:

• Turn the device off in extreme cold conditions
• Store your iPhone 16 in a pocket to use body heat
• Don't leave your iPhone in the car
• Only restart and charge your device when it reaches the normal operating range

An essential smartphone accessory to use not only during the colder months, but all year round, is a protective phone case. At Ghostek, our cases combine best-in-class engineering with sleek design to ensure stylish, weather-resistant protection.

Our iPhone 16 cases are built with dual constructions and high-quality materials, like hard plastic and silicone, which act as an extra layer of insulation for your iPhone 16. They also feature military-grade drop protection from up to 12 feet, plus anti-slip grip and raised camera borders for extra shielding.