Tech
This is how much damage tobacco smoke can cause to smartphones and electronic devices
Smoking close to your devices can have severe consequences, as smoke can damage them. But there are ways to avoid this.
Did you know that your seemingly harmless puff could turn into a silent killer for your darling smartphone? That’s right, the ominous cloud of smoke surrounding you could not only be damaging your health; it’s also conspiring to damage your phone stealthily.
Josh Gordon, technology expert at Geonode, explains the impacts of cigarette smoke on your phone’s digital health. Yes, your precious device could be sabotaged by the smoke of your cigarettes.
Smoke residue: the hidden enemy
The moment you light that cigarette, you release a horde of microscopic raiders. The more you smoke, the greater the risk of these tiny invaders infiltrating your phone through all possible openings, including charging ports, speaker grills, headphone jacks, and even your phone’s micro vents. Once inside, they begin to settle on the electronic components of your device, releasing an insidious attack.
Gordon explains: “Smoke particles are so small that they can easily infiltrate the nooks and crannies of your phone. Once there, they stay and begin to wreak havoc on the inner workings of your phone”. Although this is a slow process, the cumulative effects are harmful indefinitely.
The consequences explained
When smoke particles penetrate your smartphone, they can cause various types of damage, such as:
- Screen problems: Over time, smoke particles can build up on your phone’s screen, leaving a sticky residue that gradually builds up. This not only makes visibility difficult but also reduces the sensitivity of the touch screen.
- Audio interrupted: When smoke residue particles get into your device’s speaker and microphone grills, audio quality can drastically decrease. Essential components become trapped in this nasty substance, causing your phone’s audio to become muffled or completely inaudible.
- Overheating Nightmares: The buildup of smoke residue can clog your phone’s cooling system, causing it to overheat. If left unchecked, this can result in a reduced lifespan of the device or, in the worst case, dangerous combustion.
- Loading problems: As toxic chemicals settle inside the charging port, they eventually create a barrier between the port and the charging connector, making it difficult for power to flow. As a result, your phone may refuse to charge or experience intermittent charging issues.
- Internal obstruction: Smoke particles lodged inside the phone can cause clogging of internal components. This can lead to short circuits in internal circuits and other problems. Over time, performance can deteriorate as a direct result of smoke infiltration.
Quit smoke save your phone
The simplest solution is to avoid smoking near your phone completely. But, if that’s not possible, routine cleaning can minimize the damage. Use appropriate cleaning products and microfiber cloths to clean your phone and compressed air to remove infiltrating smoke particles. Although this basic advice may not completely prevent the destructive effects of smoke on your phone, it does give your device a fighting chance in the battle against smoke residue.
So, the next time you reach for a cigarette, remember the sneaky enemy that could be attacking your precious smartphone. Gordon emphasizes: “Every step you take to protect your smartphone from smoke is a great advance that transforms an imminent catastrophe into a simple inconvenience”.