Technological devices do not fare well with heat or liquids. If your gadget ends the holidays with heat damage or covered in sand, don’t worry: SPC, the Spanish technology company specializing in the development of smart consumer electronics products, offers three tips to protect your travel companion.
There is no beach visit without a selfie, no pool party without music, or mountain hike without recording your routes and saving all the data about your walks. Carrying an electronic device (smartphone, tablet, Bluetooth speaker, or smartwatch) during the holidays is almost as important as staying hydrated or avoiding going outside during the hottest hours.
So many hours under direct sunlight, sand, or humidity can seriously harm the devices and their operation, causing severe damage to the screen or electronic components. Sometimes, even irreversible. SPC, the technology company specializing in the development of smart consumer electronics products, offers three recommendations to care for our devices during the summer holidays:
Avoid direct sun exposure of your devices
One of the main enemies of electronic devices is the sun. Extreme temperatures can cause serious harm to the internal components of a smartphone or tablet. When such a device overheats, its data can be lost or corrupted, the screen may show pixelation or color loss, and repeated heat exposure will make it run slower or permanently shorten the battery life.
To prevent the device from overheating, avoid direct sunlight or storing it in closed spaces exposed to the sun, such as a car: the recommended temperature is between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius, and inside a car, it can rise up to 50. If you are at the beach, you can leave it inside your backpack or bag, but always covered with a towel and in the shade. Put it in Airplane mode and avoid using apps that heavily tax its processor. Also, avoid charging your phone or tablet when exposed to sunlight: always do it in the shade, preferably on a hard, cool surface.
In case of an accident, cool your device as soon as possible. Avoid sudden temperature changes: the best is to turn off the device and leave it for a while in a place with a pleasant temperature. The goal is for it to gradually return to a normal temperature.
Is your gadget water-resistant?
If your device has IP68 resistance, it is considered almost fully water-resistant. Devices like SMARTEE BOOST from SPC, for example, are perfect for summer: they are submersible up to 50 meters and can be used even in the sea, pool, or rain.
However, if it does not have specific resistance, it is better to keep them away from sea and pool water: both tend to be harsher on devices than tap or rainwater, as they contain corrosive substances (salt and chlorine) that can accelerate the oxidation of components. Handling gadgets with wet hands, splashing them, or placing them on a damp towel is also not advisable in these cases. It will not damage the internal mechanisms immediately, but it can affect them in the long term.
A good solution, in the case of tablets, eReaders, or smartphones without water resistance, is to get a hermetic plastic case that can create a vacuum around the device. They allow you to operate the touchscreen, are submersible in water, and do not cause the device to overheat more. And, in case of an accident, it is very important to follow a series of steps to avoid greater damage and try to prevent that accident from becoming the final farewell to our device: turn it off and remove all possible parts (batteries, cards, trays...) to avoid short circuits that worsen the situation. However, there is no solution that can work miracles: the best is always to carefully protect the devices, using hermetic cases and avoiding situations where they might be damaged.
Beware of exposure to sand, dust, and even sunscreen
Although devices usually have protections against small amounts of dust or sand, in places like the beach you must be especially careful because sand can enter through the slots of your gadget and cause operational problems. It is also advisable to thoroughly clean your hands after applying sunscreen, as it can affect the device’s components and damage it.
Another problem with sand grains is that they can scratch screens, damage internal components, or cause harm to camera lenses. The solution is to have a good quality case that fully covers the device.
If the device has fallen into the sand, it is recommended to brush it carefully using a soft brush. If it has removable parts, you can disassemble it for a deeper cleaning. The most important thing is to pay special attention to the connectors.
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