Does Your Phone Heat Up While Charging or Gaming? Let’s Talk!

[richardschofield]

Hi everyone,

Lately I’ve noticed my phone gets warm whenever I’m charging it or playing heavy games. I’ve read that it can be normal to an extent, but sometimes it feels hotter than it should.

So I wanted to ask:

• Does your phone heat up while charging, gaming, or multitasking?
• Which device are you using and how do you manage the heat?
• Any tips to keep the phone cooler and improve battery health?

I think this is something almost every Android user has experienced, so it would be great to hear your thoughts and solutions.

Looking forward to your replies!

 

[B. Diddy]

Almost every phone will heat up to a certain extent when the SoC is being stressed -- that's why gaming phones include extra cooling features (like a fan). Some SoCs handle workloads better than others -- Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 and 888 were notable for overheating. In addition, it's expected that the battery will get warm the faster it's being charged, and considering how fast charging has become the norm, this is very common. Wireless charging also generates heat (typically moreso than wired charging), and this can worsen if the phone is in a case that doesn't dissipate heat very well (like really thick ones).

I have a Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the only time I really notice it getting hot is when stressing it in hot temperatures. One common situation is using it in a car mount for Android Auto -- this usually places it on the dash in direct sunlight, which can contribute to a lot of heat generation (especially in warm months). The best approach here is to use an AC vent-mounted phone holder, and keep the AC on while driving (or, if the car has wireless Android Auto, keep the phone on the center console somewhere cool and shady).

 

[belodion]

My experience is that ageing phones tend to do it, either because of a failing battery, failing hardware, or perhaps both.