Q: Can my MacBook Pro take damage from low temperatures?
Hello! As someone who uses a MacBook Pro in school every day, I have now begun to worry about whatever or not I am endangering my dear computer, I live in Finland, and as you might suspect, its a bit cold outside at times. I have a half hours walking trip home from the bus every day after school, and at the moment its between -5°C to -10°C when I am going home. I keep the MBP in a laptop case, which in turn is kept inside a laptop bag (for the sake of protection and carrying around my arsenal of adapters/accessories/USB sticks/iPhone, iPad, iPod recharges/similar things). But having just looked at the weather prognostics -20°C is no longer an all that remote concept, and that is starting to worry me as to whatever the exposure to cold air for half an hour could somehow damange my MacBook Pro. As a poor (well, a poor Apple addict still has some disposable money, but yea) student, I dont want to start going trough possibly expensive battery changes or repairs, and want to know if my dear Mac is in danger.
So, first off, is it in any sort of danger, and will warranty (from the retailer I bought it or Apple`s) cover any problems the low temperatures might have inflicted? And while we are at it, what about my iOS devices? Are they in any danger?
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
Posted on Nov 28, 2012 12:01 PM
The biggest danger, as I see it, is when bringing them in from the cold, and the potential for condensation. I think letting them warm back up out in the open with good air circulation around them before powering back on is the best way to avoid that.
Of course, iPhones can just be carried in a pocket inside your coat, so your own heat avoids any possible problem for them (and they are still ready to use in case you really do need them).
I've transported my Mac laptops in suitcases or backpacks around in Ontario in the winter before, once when it was around -30C outside, and it never seemed to cause any harm.
Posted on Nov 28, 2012 12:14 PM