Health and tech experts are warning against a popular summer trick of placing an overheating phone in the refrigerator to cool it down quickly. Although the method may seem like a sensible fix and has circulated widely on social media, repair shops in Europe have reportedly seen a sharp rise in customers bringing in phones damaged this way, as the sudden temperature swings and moisture involved can seriously harm a device's internal components.

The main danger is condensation: cooling the warm air inside a phone causes moisture to form on delicate electronics, with further condensation likely when the device is removed and exposed to warmer air again. Even water-resistant phones aren't protected, since that rating doesn't extend to liquid reaching internal parts. The rapid temperature change can also cause "thermal shock", straining the lithium battery or cracking the screen. Safer alternatives include avoiding demanding tasks like streaming or gaming, using power-saving mode, removing the phone's case, using thermal pouches or MagSafe cooling fans, or simply switching the device off in extreme heat.