This phenomenon sounds like something out of a horror movie. “It’s an omen of the end of the world!” However, there’s a simple, scientific explanation for why phones explode.
First off, it’s important to note that in most cases it’s the battery at fault, not the phone. In the battery are separators that prevent two electrodes from connecting. When those separators have a defect in some way, the electrodes can touch and cause an explosion. This is because the electrolytes receive the energy that should be contained within the battery. These electrolytes are unstable and sensitive to heat, which causes other chemicals to produce gas that raises that increased heat and pressure, which leads to an explosion. This is what happened to the now-infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 back in 2016.
Most phones use lithium-ion batteries that are usually able to be overcharged safely. If a battery explodes, it is usually due to a manufacturing default. However, it’s important to note that constantly overcharging a phone can eventually hinder its performance.
How to Prevent Phones from Exploding
The good news is that it’s highly unlikely that your phone is going to explode. There are built-in safety features to prevent these sorts of accidents. However, there are ways a phone or its battery can be damaged and affect these features.
Dropping and damaging the battery
If the battery looks swollen, deformed, or continuously overheats without reason, it’s probably damaged.
Hot temperatures and environments
This involves running multiple tabs, long phone calls, using apps that are demanding for the CPU, charging, or other natural ways a phone can heat up while sitting in direct sunlight. This may not explode a phone, but it can lead to a shortened battery life.
Here are a few ways to prevent this:
- Remove the phone case while charging
- Keep the phone out of direct sunlight
- Don’t leave the phone in a hot car for long periods of time
- Don’t charge the phone while it’s in a bag or another location that traps heat
- Using the wrong or cheap knockoff chargers
- Getting a phone wet
- Battery punctures from an accident or other aggressive situation
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