Winter advisory: Don’t let your iPhone get too cold

WASHINGTON – Here’s a winter weather warning for smartphones owners: Extreme temperatures can cause damage, and using an iPhone when the device is extremely cold can void the Apple warranty.

Extremely cold means 32 degrees or colder, says PC World.

The tech publication did cold weather tests on iPhones and found sim cards report errors at 23 degrees. At 14 degrees, iPhones shut down suddenly, noting a dead battery.

Two WTOP staffers have experienced iPhone malfunctions while visiting the ICE sculpture show at National Harbour, where temperatures are kept at 17 degrees to preserve the freezing statues.

One phone experienced a dramatically drained battery. Another’s camera function showed only a black screen until the phone warmed back up.

However, PC World says be careful warming up an extrememly cold phone, as doing so too quickly can cause condensation and or permanent damage.

To read more, check out PC World.

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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