Even a brief stint in a sauna is good for your body.
Unfortunately, you can’t say the same for your iPhone.
And sure, you can take your device inside a sauna.
That doesn’t mean you should.
Keep reading to discover:
- Whether it’s fine to take your iPhone into a steam room.
- How extreme conditions can alter the behavior of an iPhone.
- 7 reasons why you shouldn’t take your iPhone into a sauna (#4 may surprise you).
- And a lot more…
Can you take your iPhone into a sauna?
You can take your iPhone into a sauna. Most establishments allow it. But it’s still better not to bring it with you. This is because the extreme heat can cause overheating or moisture buildup in your phone. In addition, the temperature inside a sauna can also shorten your iPhone’s battery life.
7 reasons why shouldn’t take your iPhone into the sauna
#1: Liquid or moisture build-up can damage your iPhone
Apple devices are generally sturdy.
In fact, when it comes to protection against dirt or liquid…
iPhones have an impressive IP rating. IP here stands for ingress, or entry, protection. And normally, you’ll see 2 digits in it.
The first 1 is a rating of how well a device protects against dust and dirt. The lowest score is 1, with 6 being the highest.
The second digit is about moisture or liquid protection. Again, the worst rating is 1. And 9 is the best.
iPhones have an IP rating of IP68. That’s among the best in the smartphone industry. Androids are better than iPhones in many aspects. But not when it comes to IP ratings.
An excellent IP rating isn’t enough to protect your iPhone
The truth is…
Your iPhone will likely survive a 15 to 20-minute trip to a sauna.
However, just because this phone has an excellent IP rating…
Doesn’t mean you’re free to expose it to extreme conditions. iPhones still aren’t immune to that.
And because of how hot saunas can get…
There’s always a possibility that moisture can eventually build up inside your phone.
Moreover, you’ll obviously be sweating a lot inside a sauna. So it’s inevitable that your phone also gets wet in the process.
And even if the phone doesn’t break down immediately…
This potential moisture buildup can eventually lead to malfunctions after days or weeks.
Your Apple warranty doesn’t cover damages caused by moisture
According to Apple’s official website…
Defects due to water or liquid are outside of the warranty coverage.
And guess what?
Their technicians can easily tell if moisture was the cause of your iPhone’s damage.
There’s a Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) built into every iPhone. You can see it on 1 side of your device.
It’s white or silver by default. But it turns red as soon as your phone gets in contact with liquid.
So in other words…
If your iPhone gets damaged due to moisture buildup in your sauna trip…
You’re likely going to have to spend a lot on repair.
And that alone is reason enough to just leave your phone in the locker for the few minutes you’ll be in the sauna.
#2: Your iPhone may overheat
Apple’s site said that you should only use your iPhone in an area where the temperature is between 32º to 95º F (0º and 35º C ).
Meanwhile, according to Healthline, it’s around 150°F to 195°F (65°C to 90°C) in a sauna.
That means the conditions there far exceed what Apple recommends for iPhones. So there’s also the risk of your device overheating.
“Wait, don’t iPhones have protections against it?”
Yes, they do. iPhones, in fact, have a mechanism to prevent overheating.
However, you can’t always rely on that to work every single time.
As you know, electronic devices are bound to glitch or malfunction at some point. Some features may just randomly stop working.
That’s why, in spite of the protective mechanisms that Apple included…
It’s still possible for your iPhone to overheat inside a sauna. And that’s another likely cause of damage.
Further reading: (13 Fixes) How To Stop iPhone From Overheating
#3: Extreme conditions may shorten an iPhone’s battery life
Like most electronic gadgets these days…
iPhones also come equipped with lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. These are the types that you can recharge. But they aren’t really designed to withstand extreme temperatures.
In fact, in a 2018 study by a Shanghai-based university…
It was revealed that the acceptable temperature range for Li-ion batteries is between 4°F and 140°F (-20°C and 60°C).
And as I mentioned in the previous entry, saunas can get much hotter than that.
So what happens to your iPhone’s batteries under extreme conditions?
Well, according to Apple, your battery life may be shortened permanently.
On average, iPhone batteries last around 2 to 3 years. Or about 500 full-charge cycles.
The batteries will then start degrading after that. But taking your iPhone to a sauna may speed up this degradation process.
And how much the batteries’ lifespan gets reduced will depend on 2 factors:
- The severity of the temperature’s hotness or coldness.
- The amount of time you exposed your phone to such conditions.
It’s also worth pointing out that iPhone battery replacements don’t come cheap. The price for each pair ranges from $69 to $129.
So that’s another thing to consider before you bring your phone with you to a sauna.
Now, if you want more tips to prolong your iPhone’s battery life…
Watch this video right here:
#4: You won’t be able to use your iPhone in its full capacity
What’s the point of bringing your phone if you can’t even really enjoy using it?
Let me explain what I mean by that.
Under extreme circumstances, your iPhone won’t behave as expected. This is because it’s trying to protect itself from the condition it’s in.
In an environment that’s too hot or cold…
An iPhone’s cellular radio switches to a low-power mode. And as a consequence, your phone will receive little to no signal.
So if you’re planning to use your iPhone’s mobile data while in a sauna…
You might have a hard time even opening a webpage. And streaming apps like Spotify likely won’t work.
In addition, you’ll likely struggle to send or receive text messages due to the lack of signal.
Aside from poor reception…
An iPhone’s processor also slows down in extreme temperatures. This means you won’t be able to use those graphics-heavy 3rd-party apps that you installed.
What’s more, as a mechanism to try to cool itself down…
Your iPhone may also either dim its display or go completely black.
In other words, even if you take your iPhone to a sauna…
There’s a good chance you’d be barely able to use it due to these performance changes. So you may as well just leave it behind.
#5: The use of a phone inside a sauna may disturb others
The first 4 entries that I discussed are more on the technical dangers of bringing an iPhone to a sauna.
These last 3 will tackle the social reasons why it’s better not to take your phone with you in a sauna session.
And the first 1 is this:
Your phone usage may disturb others.
People come to saunas not just to sweat a lot, but also to relax.
And because it’s usually quiet in there…
Every sound that your phone makes is magnified. It may appear even louder than usual. And that, in turn, may bother some that are there with you.
Now, if it’s a private sauna where you’re the only person inside…
This wouldn’t be a problem. But as I mentioned, your iPhone’s performance won’t be at its best due to the extreme heat.
#6: People may think you’re taking videos or photos of them
Many say that smartphones are the best inventions of the 21st century. And few will argue with that.
However, as helpful as these gadgets are…
They can also be used for sinister purposes.
For instance, many have taken advantage of smartphones to secretly record others.
That’s why in a sauna, where everyone’s barely wearing anything…
Some might get worried when they see an individual with a phone.
They may think you’re sneakily taking a video or photo of them.
So even if you have no intentions of doing so…
You may still make some people uncomfortable if you take your phone with you in a public sauna.
Fun fact: Japan-made iPhones have a camera shutter sound that you won’t be able to turn off. This is because the country has strict privacy laws. And it’s a means to prevent people from secretly taking photos of others.
#7: You’d likely have a better experience in a sauna without a phone
According to Statista, the majority of people in the US spend around 5 to 7 hours on their phones daily.
In fact, for many, checking their phone is the first thing they do when they wake up. And the last before they sleep.
Now, sauna sessions only last 15 to 20 minutes on average. So I don’t think it’s too much of a sacrifice to put your phone away for that brief period.
You can always check your phone as soon as your session’s done.
If you must use your iPhone, let’s say you’re waiting for an important call…
Then maybe delay your session for a while.
Saunas are supposed to make you feel relaxed.
And you’re more likely to get the most out of your experience…
If you just put your iPhone away while you’re in a session.