A Phone That Can't Stand the Heat
Why can't our devices be more usable outdoors?
As most of you probably know, I’ve long been an Android phone enthusiast.
There has just always been something about the Android operating system that appealed to me. It’s (mostly) open-source with plenty of customization options. It’s a bit less restrictive than iOS when it comes to tinkering with the operating system. And for the most part, it just works well on a variety of different devices.
Well, Google has come a long way from the original versions of Android. These days, they create their own custom hardware to get the most out of the operating system. You’ve probably heard of the Pixel line of phones? Yep, we’re up to the Pixel 6 right now, and it’s been my daily driver since it was launched last Fall.
The phone isn’t perfect, but it’s solid in most areas. The screen looks nice, the battery life is pretty good, and it still seems pretty snappy with no hesitations no matter what types of apps I throw at it. But this phone has one weakness that is really starting to get on my nerves.
The Pixel 6 just can’t stand the heat!
There have been reports of some pixel phones overheating in the past, but that’s not really the problem I’m having. It’s almost as if the Pixel 6 is afraid of overheating. So in a defensive move, it just turns itself off if it feels even the smallest uptick in temperature. I suppose this is smart in theory, but it’s become detrimental in daily use of the phone.
Keep in mind that I live in the Bay Area. Known more for its fog and wind rather than excessive heat. By no means am I trying to watch YouTube videos in Death Valley. I’ve been holding my phone on a lovely spring day with temps in the low 70s and seen it just shut down before my eyes. The phone didn’t even feel all that warm.
Backyard workouts are a staple of my fitness routine. I’m regularly doing bodyweight exercises or using equipment from The Wild Gym. There is usually a visual to follow along with in the monkii app. I’ve had my phone sitting nearby in a shady spot only to suddenly lose my audio feed and see a black screen. It’s incredibly infuriating.
What is the point of this rant? Well, I’m a big believer in combining nature and technology. Why should we be forced to only use our devices indoors? I could go off on another tangent here about how disappointing it is not to not be able to use the Meta Quest II VR headset outdoors. I recently gave it another try and the hand controllers become a wonky mess when the sensors are in the sun. I understand the limitations of sunlight on VR sensors, but most of our devices need to be more usable outdoors!
When purchasing a laptop, the visibility of the screen in sunlight is a very important factor in my decision. I currently type this sentence with sunlight directly on the screen of my Pixelbook, and it handles it quite well. Sadly, my Macbook Pro (while more expensive) can’t handle the sunlight glare as well. I may be in the minority as someone who does most of his knowledge work outdoors, but I don’t think it’s asking too much to see my screens in the sun.
I can’t be the only one who feels frustration when using my devices in the elements. A few years back, none of our devices were dust or water-resistant, now that has become standard on all high-end technology. Will we look back in a few years and laugh at the olden days when our devices couldn’t handle a little bit of sunshine? I sure hope so!
Has anyone else experienced similar issues using their phone or computer in the sun recently?