SlashGear journalists warn users against improper storage of old smartphones. Materials available at website media.
According to the authors of the portal, many people still keep their old phones at home. And often they just sit in desk drawers or on shelves. Experts warn that even a turned off device can become dangerous due to the battery inside.
Such devices are called “time bombs”. The authors explain that at some point, the phone's battery can overheat and cause a fire. They describe the risk of battery fires because the lithium-ion batteries in any device will degrade over time and become more susceptible to spontaneous combustion.
For example, they took the story of the author of the YouTube channel Mrwhosetheboss with 22.4 million subscribers, Arun Maini, who kept several dozen smartphones at home. During the record heatwave that hit Britain, some of his equipment spontaneously burst into flames. Journalists recommend charging the phone battery to 50% before long-term storage.
SlashGear journalists also advise against accessing the Internet with old phones. The danger stems from outdated devices not being protected from modern hacker attacks.
Previously, PCMag's writers have stated that continuing to use Windows 10 is only safe if you subscribe to patches. They recommend that operating system (OS) users enroll in the ESU Extended Update program.
