Why Your Phone Just Won't Stop Overheating
You're 20 minutes into a Genshin Impact session when it happens—your phone starts cooking your palms. Or maybe you're navigating through Bangalore traffic under the April sun when Android Auto disconnects with a temperature warning. Sound familiar?
Phone overheating isn't just annoying; it's the most complained-about issue on Reddit tech forums and Amazon reviews in 2025. And if you think it's just your OnePlus Nord or Samsung Galaxy acting up, you're not alone. Even Apple's iPhone 15 Pro launched with heating complaints that required a software patch.
Here's what actually causes your phone to overheat, which devices are the worst offenders, and—most importantly—what genuinely works to fix it. Spoiler: putting it in the fridge isn't one of them.
The Technical Reality: Why Modern Phones Turn Into Pocket Heaters
It's the Chipset, Mostly
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 shows a massive 65% performance jump over the 8 Gen 3 from just two years ago, but that raw power comes with a thermal cost. During stress tests, the OnePlus 15 with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 hit surface temperatures of 52.7°C (127°F) and shut down completely before finishing benchmarks.
Modern flagship chipsets are essentially miniature furnaces. The physics are straightforward—pack more transistors into a 3nm or 4nm process node, clock them higher (the 8 Elite Gen 5 hits 4.6GHz on performance cores), and you generate serious heat. Your phone's cooling system—usually a vapor chamber, graphite sheets, or thermal paste—tries to spread that heat across the device's back panel. But there's only so much a thin slab of metal can dissipate.
Thermal throttling kicks in when phones detect dangerous temperatures, typically around 44-49°C for most Android devices. The system automatically reduces CPU and GPU clock speeds to prevent hardware damage. That's why your phone suddenly stutters mid-game or why the camera app closes with a temperature warning.
The Battery Factor
Lithium-ion batteries are finicky about temperature. Charging generates heat through chemical reactions, and using demanding apps while charging compounds the problem since both the battery and processor are working simultaneously. Fast charging technologies like OnePlus's 100W or Xiaomi's 120W charging push even more current through the battery, accelerating heat generation.
The irony? OEMs set thermal throttling thresholds based on skin temperature (the phone's external surface) rather than just internal component temperature, starting around 37°C skin temperature for devices like the Pixel 6 and 7. This means your phone might throttle performance even when internal components could handle more—all to keep the device comfortable to hold.
India's Climate Multiplier
If you're in India, ambient temperature isn't doing you any favors. India's 2025 summer saw temperatures exceeding 45°C in multiple states, with Rajasthan's Barmer hitting 45.6°C in early April and projections of 7-8 additional heatwave days in western India. When ambient temperature sits at 42°C, your phone starts from a disadvantaged thermal baseline.
Most electronic devices function optimally between 0-35°C (32-95°F). Above that range, heat dissipation becomes exponentially harder. Direct sunlight adds another layer—leaving your phone on a car dashboard or using GPS navigation on a bike mount under afternoon sun can push internal temperatures past safe thresholds in minutes.
The Hall of Shame: Phones That Overheat Most
OnePlus: Speed Comes With Heat
OnePlus built its brand on speed and performance, but models like the OnePlus Nord 2 and Nord 3 became notorious for heating during charging, calling, and even normal use, with the Dimensity chipsets often blamed. Even flagship models aren't immune—the OnePlus 15 with its advanced Glacier Cooling System couldn't prevent crashes during intensive 3DMark tests.
The Nord series particularly struggles because mid-range models lack the robust vapor chamber cooling systems found in flagships like the OnePlus 11 and 12. If you own a Nord 3 and game regularly, you've probably experienced the throttling firsthand.
Samsung Galaxy S Series: The Exynos Legacy
Samsung's Galaxy S22 series, especially models with the Exynos chip, faced major heating complaints. While the S23 series switched to the more efficient "Snapdragon for Galaxy" chip—a significant improvement—users still report noticeable warmth on the S24 series.
Samsung's approach to thermal management is conservative: their software aggressively throttles the processor to control temperatures, meaning you might see performance dips during long gaming sessions even though the phone rarely gets dangerously hot.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: Titanium Can't Conduct
Soon after its release, the iPhone 15 Pro flooded forums with heating complaints—the phone got uncomfortably hot during simple tasks like scrolling social media and especially during charging or FaceTime calls, with the new titanium frame discussed as a factor in how heat was felt on the surface.
Apple acknowledged the problem and released iOS 17.0.3 specifically to address overheating, significantly improving the situation for most users. Still, the phone gets warm during 4K video recording or intensive gaming—expected behavior for such a powerful chip, but frustrating given the premium price tag.
Xiaomi Redmi K Series: Budget Meets Heat
The Redmi K series packs flagship-level processors into mid-range bodies, often with compromised cooling solutions. User reports across XDA Forums and Reddit consistently mention heating issues during gaming and camera use, especially in Indian summer conditions where ambient temperatures amplify the problem.
Chipset Thermal Performance: The Numbers
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs 8 Gen 3
On Geekbench 6, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 scores 3,621 single-core points and 11,190 multi-core points compared to the 8 Gen 3's 2,203 and 6,714 points—representing 66% higher performance. But that performance leap has thermal consequences.
In sustained stress tests, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 reference device survived four full runs before performance collapsed to 58% of peak—dropping to levels comparable to the previous generation 8 Elite. Translation: initial burst performance is incredible, but sustained gaming or video editing sessions will hit thermal limits fast.
The Nubia Z80 Ultra with conventional cooling achieved only 48% stability in 3DMark stress tests with the 8 Elite Gen 5, while the gaming-focused RedMagic 11 Pro with active fan cooling achieved 80% stability. The difference? A 24,000 RPM fan and liquid cooling system that simply can't fit in regular phones.
MediaTek Dimensity: The Other Culprit
Dimensity chipsets in OnePlus Nord models were frequently blamed for heating issues. MediaTek's top-tier chips compete on performance but historically lag behind Qualcomm's thermal efficiency. The Dimensity 9000 and 9200 generations particularly struggled in Indian market devices where aggressive pricing meant compromised cooling solutions.
Seasonal Patterns: Summer vs Winter Phone Behavior
Summer (March-June, India)
In India's brutal summer months, ambient temperatures routinely exceed 40°C in most states. The India Meteorological Department forecast that northwest and central India could face twice as many heatwave days in 2025, with states like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha seeing 10-11 heatwave days.
For your phone, this means:
- Baseline thermal disadvantage: Starting at 40°C ambient vs 25°C makes a 15°C difference in thermal headroom
- Direct sunlight multiplier: Surface temperatures on devices left in sun can exceed 60°C within 15 minutes
- Network stress: 4G/5G radios work harder in heat, drawing more power and generating additional heat
- Battery charging impact: Fast charging in hot conditions stresses batteries more, reducing long-term capacity
Winter (December-February, Global)
Cold temperatures present opposite challenges:
- Battery performance drops: Lithium-ion batteries lose capacity in cold (below 10°C), sometimes by 20-30%
- Initial performance boost: Cold ambient air aids cooling during intensive tasks
- Condensation risk: Moving between cold outdoor and warm indoor environments can cause moisture issues
- Screen responsiveness: LCD and OLED displays respond slower in extreme cold (below 0°C)
In colder climates like northern Europe or Canada (where winter temperatures drop well below 0°C), phones may shut down entirely if exposed to extended periods below -10°C. The battery voltage drops enough that the device can't maintain operation, even with charge remaining.
Monsoon (June-September, India)
High humidity during monsoon season doesn't directly overheat phones but creates secondary issues:
- Reduced cooling efficiency: High humidity decreases evaporative cooling effectiveness
- Moisture ingress risk: Condensation can form inside non-waterproof devices
- Network signal degradation: Phones work harder to maintain signal in heavy rain, increasing power draw
What Actually Works: Proven Cooling Methods
Software-Level Solutions
Close background apps - This advice gets repeated everywhere, but there's nuance. Most background apps consume CPU power, warming your phone. Check Settings > Battery > Battery Usage to identify apps consuming excessive battery. Force-stopping unused apps genuinely helps, especially poorly-optimized social media apps that constantly sync.
Enable battery saver mode - Battery Saver Mode minimizes background activity and cools down the phone by limiting CPU performance and reducing screen refresh rates. You'll sacrifice some fluidity, but it's effective for immediate cooling.
Update your software - OnePlus and other OEMs release software updates regularly to fix bugs and improve performance, including thermal management optimizations. The iPhone 15 Pro's iOS 17.0.3 update is proof that software alone can significantly reduce heating.
Reduce screen brightness and refresh rate - High brightness and 120Hz refresh rates drain power. Dropping to 60Hz and reducing brightness by 30% can lower power consumption by 15-20%, directly reducing heat generation.
Hardware-Level Actions
Remove the case during intensive use - Thick cases can trap heat close to your device, especially those that are bulky or not made for ventilation. Remove protective cases during gaming sessions or extended camera use. The phone's back panel is designed to dissipate heat; insulating it defeats that purpose.
Don't use while charging - Charging generates heat, and the OS lowers performance or charging rate so the battery and motherboard stay within safe temperatures when you use the phone simultaneously. Wait until charging completes before gaming or video calls.
Keep away from direct sunlight - In extreme situations, removing the cover, seeking shade, and reducing workload is the most effective option for summer heat. If you must use GPS outdoors, mount your phone where shade is available or use a sunshade attachment.
Restart periodically - Restarting your device stops any software bug or glitch that might be causing overheating. A simple reboot clears memory leaks and refreshes system processes.
What to Avoid: Cooling Myths Debunked
❌ DON'T put your phone in the refrigerator or freezer
When a cold phone is removed from the refrigerator, it attracts moisture from warmer air, leading to water droplets forming inside the device that can damage internal components, particularly the battery and circuit boards. Storing rechargeable batteries like lithium-ion in freezing temperatures can slow their chemical reactions, reducing efficiency and causing potential long-term damage.
The condensation risk alone makes refrigeration dangerous. One user on Apple Community forums reported: "I put my iPhone in the fridge at 5 degrees and now I'm concerned about condensation forming inside." Don't be that person.
❌ DON'T use rice or similar "drying" methods for overheating
Rice doesn't cool phones—it's a moisture absorbent myth carried over from water damage advice (where, according to a Gazelle study, rice isn't even particularly effective compared to silica gel or just air-drying). Rice won't reduce your phone's temperature; it'll just get rice dust in your charging port.
❌ DON'T rely solely on "cooling apps"
Most Android "cooling apps" are snake oil. We tested over a dozen apps on three Android phones in real Indian summer conditions (38-45°C), and while apps like Cooling Master showed 4-5°C reduction, this primarily came from closing background processes—something you can do manually for free.
These apps don't magically reduce heat; they just force-close apps and limit CPU usage. You're better off doing this manually through system settings without installing bloatware.
The Cooling Case Reality Check
Here's the uncomfortable truth about cooling cases: they mostly don't work as advertised.
Tests with perforated cases provided minimal relief compared to conventional plastic cases, not enough to make a difference during heat peaks—with intensive use, heat reappeared and prevented shutdowns. The physics are simple: passive cooling requires airflow, but phones have sealed designs. A few holes in a case won't create meaningful convection.
What about active cooling accessories?
Mobile gaming coolers like the Black Shark 3 Pro and Redmagic Ice Dock 5 Pro use Peltier thermoelectric cooling and dual-fan designs, achieving temperature drops of 28-30°C during testing. These work—but they're bulky, require power (often via USB-C), and cost ₹4,000-5,000.
If you're a serious mobile gamer playing COD Mobile or Genshin Impact for hours daily, active cooling accessories are worth it. For everyone else, they're overkill. Better to address root causes: close apps, reduce brightness, don't charge while gaming.
Materials that help (marginally)
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) conducts heat well and remains stable when devices get hot, while graphene has high thermal conductivity to transfer heat away from hot spots. If you must use a case, thin TPU or graphene-infused cases are better than thick silicone or leather, which act as insulators.
When to Worry: Temperature Thresholds
Normal vs Dangerous
A phone that feels slightly warm (35-40°C surface temperature) during use is normal and expected. You should be concerned when:
- Surface temperature exceeds 45°C: This is uncomfortably hot to hold and indicates aggressive throttling is occurring
- Phone displays temperature warning: Both iOS and Android show warnings when internal temps hit critical thresholds
- Apps close automatically: The OS is protecting hardware by force-closing apps
- Phone shuts down: Thermal mitigation systems will shut down devices to prevent component damage when critical temperatures are reached
- Battery drain accelerates: High temperatures increase battery self-discharge rates
Battery Safety Limits
Lithium-ion batteries deliver less energy as heat rises, and prolonged exposure to high temperatures accelerates degradation. Most phone batteries are rated for optimal performance between 0-35°C. Sustained operation above 45°C permanently reduces battery capacity over time.
For chipsets, thermal junction maximum (TJMax) is usually set around 90-100°C for CPUs, but OEMs implement throttling much earlier to protect user experience and component longevity. By the time your phone's skin feels hot (45°C+), internal components might be approaching 70-80°C.
Long-Term Damage Risks
Repeated overheating episodes cause:
- Accelerated battery wear: Capacity degrades faster, reducing usable charge cycles
- Thermal paste degradation: Thermal pastes and adhesives lose effectiveness over time, causing inefficient heat transfer from the processor to the heat sink, impacting device longevity
- Component solder stress: Thermal expansion and contraction can weaken solder joints
- Screen damage: Extreme heat can affect LCD backlights or OLED pixel degradation
The Bottom Line (Without Using "Bottom Line")
Phone overheating stems from the fundamental tension between performance and thermal physics. Modern chipsets are phenomenally powerful—Qualcomm improved single-core performance by 75% and multi-core by 80% in just two years from Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to 8 Elite Gen 5—but that power generates heat that ultra-thin phone bodies struggle to dissipate.
If your OnePlus Nord heats during normal use, or your Samsung Galaxy throttles during gaming, you're experiencing the downstream effects of these tradeoffs. The solutions aren't magical: close unnecessary apps, avoid charging while gaming, keep your phone out of direct sunlight, and remove bulky cases during intensive tasks.
Cooling cases are mostly marketing, refrigeration is dangerous, and "cooling apps" do nothing you can't do manually. For serious mobile gamers, active cooling accessories with fans actually work—if you're willing to carry the bulk and pay ₹4,000+.
The real solution? OEMs need to prioritize thermal design as much as benchmark scores. Until then, we're stuck managing the heat ourselves.