How to Protect Your Phone from Cold Weather (Prolong Battery Level)

This page may have Commerce Content. If you buy something from our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more.

Rob Johnston

Editor & Article Writer for Outdoor Wilds

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for helping to support the site.

How to Protect Your Phone from Cold Weather

Modern phones are built to withstand quite a bit of punishment. Most are very impact-resistant, many are shatterproof, and some can even be submerged underwater.

However, one thing that still takes a considerable toll on phones is the cold.

For one, extreme cold weather can make your phone brittle, thus making it more susceptible to damage via impact.

The real issue is that when phones get cold, their batteries start draining really fast.

Let’s talk about how to protect your phone from these issues when exposed to low temperatures in cold weather environments.

Start the Day with a Fully Charged Battery

If you start the day with a battery that is only partially charged, of course, it won’t last as long as if it was fully charged.

As stated above, the cold will drain your battery fairly quickly. Although starting the day with a fully charged phone may not stop the battery from draining at an increased speed, it will at least give you more leeway to maneuver.

Therefore, always start with a fully charged battery. Moreover, it may be wise to take a charger with you. This way, when you get to a warm place without a power outlet, you can recharge the phone before you head back out into the cold.

Carry a Small Power Bank

If you are worried that your phone will die while you are outside, a small power bank can help. This is especially the case if you plan on being outdoors for a prolonged period where you will not have access to a power outlet.

Power banks, especially the good ones, can be quite large and heavy; there is no denying that. However, there are some small and lightweight phone banks out there that can recharge your battery two or three times on a single charge.

Therefore, even if your battery does drain quickly in the cold, you have an available backup.

Also, the very act of charging the phone will warm it up too. Have you ever noticed how your phone can get warm while it is charging?

Keep Phone Inside a Thermal Phone Sleeve

One of the best things you can do to protect your phone in the cold and stop the battery from draining is to use a thermal phone case or sleeve.

These are pouches made of materials such as nylon, various fibers, and insulators that will allow your phone to retain more heat.

Your phone does produce a bit of heat. The more heat your phone can retain, the longer the battery will last.

Many modern thermal phone pouches use tightly woven fabric with a high Tex rating.

These fabrics are usually rated 210T and above, giving this type of material makes a great thermal insulator for your phone.

Last update on 2024-11-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Use Hand Warmers Inside Pocket Alongside Phone

Here you can kill two birds with one stone. Hand warmers are a real godsend in the wintertime because, of course, they keep your hands warm.

Hand warmers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Generally speaking, there are two main types of hand warmers to consider.

You have those hand warmers that use heating elements and electric heat, along with a battery and are USB rechargeable. Pro tip: You can even find electric warming glove liners.

The other type of hand warmer is the chemical hand warmer. These generally come in the form of little packets that, when manipulated, cause a chemical reaction that creates heat.

Not only do these keep your digits warm, but when put inside of a jacket pocket, they can keep your belongings toasty too.

This way, you can use hand warmers to keep both your hands and your phone warm.

Last update on 2024-11-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Place Inside Inner Jacket Pocket

The other thing you can do to help protect your phone from extreme cold is to place it inside an inner jacket pocket. It’s simple science.

The more layers you have covering your phone, the better insulated it will be from the cold. When put inside an inner pocket, this combines with your own body heat and will keep the phone warm.

Moreover, in the cold, the wind is one of your worst enemies. Extreme cold combined with the wind will suck the heat out of you and your phone alike.

Therefore, keeping your phone close to your body, well insulated, and away from the wind will go a long way in protecting it.

Want to know how to stay warm when camping during the winter months?

Read this guide on keeping warm while cold weather camping.