Why iPhone 5 Battery Dies in Cold Weather? Reasons & 7 Practical Tips

Why iPhone 5 battery dies in cold weather? Cold weather can bring perfect moments together near a fire or exciting skiing but produces poor battery performance. However, many people blame their iPhones for suddenly dying despite having 30% battery life left. This article will help you find the reasons for this issue and ways to prevent it.

Why does my iPhone battery die in cold weather?

Reason Why iPhone 5 Battery Dies in Cold Weather

People who live in cold weather often encounter situations where the iPhone 5 battery dies in cold weather. 

When the temperature drops very low, the battery life span diminishes quickly. Within a few minutes, the battery can drop from 100% to 3% or even 1%, enough power to shut down the device. 

The reason the iPhone battery dies in cold weather is the battery material. 

All iPhone versions use a type of battery called Lithium-Ion (abbreviated Li-ion), and so does the iPhone 5. This type of battery is the most common technological battery used for rechargeable devices.

The biggest advantage of Li-ion batteries is that they can charge fairly quickly, and you do not need to wait for them to be completely depleted before recharging.

However, charging them at 20% battery is still better than waiting for your phone to die.  

Unfortunately, these batteries do not work well when the outside temperature drops.

According to Apple, your iPhone device is designed to perform well in a wide range of ambient temperatures, with 62° to 72° F (16° to 22° C) as the ideal comfort zone.

Besides, it is also warned that you should not let your phone in ambient temperatures higher than 95° F (35° C) because it can permanently damage battery capacity. 

iPhone lithium-ion battery

The lithium-ion battery simply cannot perform at extremely cold temperatures. Under cold temperatures, the lithium ions slow down, diminishing the flow of electricity. 

The colder the weather, the lower the battery capacity. Look at the picture below to see that. 

The colder the weather, the worse the battery capacity

Therefore, Apple's shorter life span is not a flaw. This can happen to any lithium-ion battery-powered device. Your iPhone definitely still works well when you leave the cold places. 

Find out more cold weather tips in our blog: How to keep your phone warm in cold weather? How to keep car battery from dying in cold weather?

How to Prevent iPhone Dies in Cold Weather?

Why the iPhone 5 battery dies in cold weather? You have already found the cause. So, how to limit this situation? Let’s apply some cold weather tips below for iPhone 5 or other iPhone versions. 

Turn Off Your Phone When Unnecessary

To reduce the influence when the iPhone battery dies when cold, the first way you should try is to turn off your phone when unnecessary. 

When turned off, these iPhone devices may be more robust and withstand temperatures from -20° to 45° C.

For example, the weather forecast app shows a temperature of -10° C. If you need to go outside, such as jogging or riding your snowmobile, and do not really need your smartphone, turn it off. That way, the iPhone battery lifespan will last longer.

Make sure to turn it off, especially because some people misunderstand when just putting it to sleep. To turn off your device, hold the sleep/wake button and swipe the “slide to power off” switch.

Turn off your iPhone if you are not using it

Do not turn on your iPhone immediately when returning to a warmer environment. This action can damage iPhone 5 devices, every electronic device, and some forms of media, such as video and audio cassettes. 

The reason is the rapid change in temperature from cold to warm. 

Turning on a cold device can cause it to warm itself quickly, causing components to expand too quickly and your iPhone to form condensation. 

Keep Your iPhone Warm

The iPhone 5 battery dies in cold weather due to low temperatures. So, simply keep your phone warm. When it is harsh outside, warm clothes will protect your iPhone from the weather. 

If you put the iPhone in an inside pocket, between your body heat and the jacket’s insulation, it will remain operational in ideal temperatures. If you can't do that, try to put the device as close to your body as possible.

Put your phone inside the pocket

However, as mentioned above, the rapid change in temperature in this type of weather is dangerous. It is advised that you refrain from repeatedly taking the phone out and return it to its warm location. 

Instead, you can try to use shortcut buttons. The buttons on Apple’s headphones allow users to control some iPhone functions. For instance, one can invoke Siri simply by pressing and holding the center button on the headphones.

Use a High-Tech Thermal Protection Case

Optimal is an active, electronic thermal protection case that promises to be the high-end solution to using an iPhone in extreme temperatures. 

This cold-weather solution for the iPhone will maintain the temperature in hot or cold weather. 

This case operates by cooling down fans and warming elements, ensuring that your phone is at the optimal operating temperature. Therefore, you will not have to worry about your iPhone battery dies in cold weather. 

Optimal

Don’t Leave Your iPhone in the Car

Will leaving your iPhone 5 or any iPhone version device in the car be better? The answer is absolutely no. Given the iPhone's operational and non-operational temperature range, you should not put it in a cold car. 

Don’t leave your iPhone in the car

If you leave your iPhone in your car, even for convenience, at least turn it off and wait until it warms up before turning it on again. The best cold-weather tip for iPhones is to take them with you. Your smartphone is tucked in a warm pocket, which looks far better.

Keep a Car Charger for Emergencies

Although the battery lifespan may become shorter in cold weather, it will probably get some power if you plug it into a charger. 

Always keep a car-compatible iPhone charger in your automobile or bring a phone backup charger by yourself. 

Nowadays, most modern cars are designed to have a standard electric or USB outlet, which enables users to use just about any charger.

Prepare a charger

You should use the high-quality charger provided by Apple. Fake chargers that can rapidly charge can damage the battery from overheating. 

Even if you stay in a cold environment, a rapid charger could raise the temperature to a peak, influencing your device's age. You should watch out. 

Use an Old iPhone

A backup plan for the situation where the iPhone 5 battery dies in cold weather is to use an older iPhone version. 

Prior to the iPhone 5, Apple smartphone products were sandwiched between two glass layers, and glass is an insulator. Therefore, the iPhone 4 and 4S can better withstand cold conditions.

A backup plan for the situation if the iPhone 5 battery dies in cold weather

Although Apple recommends the same temperatures for these older versions of iPhones, the glass-sandwiched layer also helped the iPhone bear the temperature better. 

Of course, if the device is left in the cold for a long time, it won’t matter. However, if you take it out of your pocket to use briefly, it should remain operational longer.

Use the Apple Watch to Access iPhone Functionality

How about using the Apple Watch to access the iPhone? The cell phone battery dies in cold weather, and even updated versions also have a similar situation so that you can limit that weakness by using an Apple Watch.

You can use an Apple Watch as an alternative

The Apple Watch may be a better alternative in cold weather. The device’s operating temperature range is also announced to be the same as the iPhone, from 0º C to 35º C. 

Nevertheless, some constructive aspects of the Apple Watch may allow it to fare better in cold weather. 

With the Apple Watch, you can do some basic tasks instead of picking your iPhone from your pocket with the higher risk of power down. 

Final Words

Now, with cold weather tips for iPhone versions above, I hope you never meet a situation where the iPhone 5 battery dies in cold weather. Due to its battery construction, iPhone devices can power down quickly in harsh winters when the temperature can be very negative. The best thing you can do to prevent this is to make your devices warm.