It’s perfectly normal to feel a slight warmth from your smartphone charger while it’s charging.
But it shouldn’t get so hot that it hurts to touch. When it does, it means something is wrong and needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
A charger that gets too hot could shorten the life of your phone’s battery and other important parts. Even though it is unlikely that a hot charger will cause a fire, it is still something to think about.
It’s perfectly normal to feel a slight warmth from your smartphone charger while it’s charging. But it shouldn’t get so hot that it hurts to touch. When it does, it means something is wrong and needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
A charger that gets too hot could shorten the life of your phone’s battery and other important parts. Even though it is unlikely that a hot charger will cause a fire, it is still something to think about.
Read also: Europe’s New Phone Charger Policy Forces Apple to Adapt
TCL examines some common causes of charger overheating and offers suggestions for potential solutions.
An incompatible or unofficial charger: Using the wrong charger or cord for your device is one of the main causes of a charger getting too hot. Chargers made just for your phone are tuned to give you the exact amount of power you need. On the other hand, this is where illegal or incompatible chargers often fall short. Overheating is especially likely to happen with cheap, illegal chargers.
Defective Charger: Although uncommon, chargers can occasionally exhibit defects or arrive with flaws. A malfunction in the charger might render it incapable of managing the power or voltage coursing through it, leading to overheating. The risk of defects is higher in older chargers due to normal wear and tear.
A broken cable: A broken cable can cause a charger to get too hot. Damage might be obvious if there are uncovered wires or holes in the plastic case. One good way to figure out what’s wrong is to test the charger with a different wire to see if it still gets too hot.
Charging in a Hot Place: If you put your charger in full sunlight on a hot summer day while your phone is charging, the charger might get hot.
Charging for a long time: Letting your phone charge continuously all day or all night can cause the charger to get too hot. Your phone’s battery could also be damaged if you keep overcharging it.
How to Keep the Charger from Getting Too Hot
Most of the time, all you have to do to reduce the risk of an overheating charger is use the charger that is officially suggested for your smartphone’s make and model. Also, being careful not to overcharge your phone and touching the cables as little as possible can make charging safer.
Making sure your charger is in good shape, keeping the charging ports and cord connections clean, and using the charger in a well-ventilated, cool place are all good ways to keep it from overheating.