Personal Hotspot making my iPhone overheat

Question

Level 1

9 points

Personal Hotspot making my iPhone overheat

I just tried using the Peronal Hotspot for the first time, using it to give my Wi-Fi iPad Internet access. It worked well, but after trying it for only five minutes or so, my iPhone became VERY warm — like the early laptops. Is this normal? I disconnected, for fear that it would damage my iPhone.

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Mar 22, 2011 9:48 AM

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Answer 1

Sam M.

Level 3

604 points

Mar 22, 2011 12:27 PM in response to Tom Killeen

Your iPhone has a built in temperature sensor so it is able to identify when it can [no longer safely operate|http://www.softsailor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/iphone-needs-to-co ol-down-before-you-can-use-it.jpg]. Personal Hotspot is a very strenuous process for the device in terms of battery consumption and may even rapidly drain it. If you're not outside under the sun and just using it under normal circumstances never fear that using a supported feature will cause any damage.

-SM

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Answer 2

Sam M.

Level 3

604 points

Mar 24, 2011 11:04 AM in response to Tom Killeen

Nothing scientific but I do believe Bluetooth uses less power. While seemingly counter intuitive since this is wireless, a solution to the power issue would be to actually plug iPhone in to your USB port just so it is able to charge while using it. I suppose you could also just use the USB tethering as well.

-SM

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Answer 3

Tom Killeen Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 23, 2011 6:49 AM in response to Sam M.

Thanks, Sam. Do you happen to know whether or not choosing Bluetooth would ease the battery consumption and/or heat generation, versus the Wi-Fi option?

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