RT Walker's iBlog

Tech Note Re: Overheating iPhone 3G / 3G S

First and foremost, as a general statement, performance of your iPod is dependent (to some degree) on the operating temperatures in the environment.  ”Your iPod works best from 32° to 95°F (0° to 35° C). You should store it in environments of -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C). … Keeping your iPod as near room temperature as possible (72° or 22° C) is ideal.

When I look at the operating and ideal temperature ranges, I suggest the rule of thumb that “If you are not comfortable at that temperature, neither is your iPod.

Further exploration on the specific topic of overheating returned a recent Apple Technical note, dated July 7, 2009 pertaining to the iPhone 3G and 3GS models (presumably such common sense recommendations would apply to all models with regard to the specific topic of overheating).

After re-iterating the temperature conditions above, Apple further states: “Store iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a place where the temperature is between -20° and 45° C (-4° to 113° F). Don’t leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range. Some conditions and activities that may activate the Temperature warning message:

• Leave your iPod (any model) in a vehicle on a hot day
• Leave it in direct sunlight for extended periods of time
• Use certain applications under hot conditions or direct sunlight for long periods of time. The two applications explicitly mentioned are using GPS tracking in vehicle on a sunny day and listening to music while in direct sunlight

If the interior temperature of the device exceeds normal operating temperatures, you may experience the following as it attempts to regulate its temperature:

• The device stops charging
• Display dims
• Temperature warning screen appears with the message “iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it …

Now, I suggest that the overheating issue are, at this point, best considered to be rumours, or rare cases at best. Apple is a big name company and have a considerable budget for Marketing, of which a portion would be allocated to Public Relations. I may gripe about the cost of repairs for an iPod Classic, however, Apple does have both Customer and Technical Support and, given the popularity of the iPod line and dramatic success of the recent iPhone 3GS release, I expect Apple has explored, and is continuing to, explore these rumours, in an attempt to reproduce them. I believe this to be a valid statement, particularly given the litigious nature of North America. If the only Tech Note from Apple is with regard to overheating, and they simply make common sense recommendations at that, then I suggest that is the extent, to date, of the “overheating issue”.

Tweet This Post

Tags: Apple, iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, overheating, Tech Note