Does using my phone as a hotspot damage the phone?
Having a mobile hotspot can save you during the moments when you need to access the internet without connecting to a Wi-Fi network. However, can it result in damage to your phone?
As long as you have a smartphone, you can set up a mobile hotspot easily. They allow for sharing of your phone’s cellular connection with other devices, proving convenient when you cannot connect to public or home networks. However, some risks remain present when using your phone as a hotspot, because of possible harm to the device.
Hotspot use does not risk damage unless you use it for a long time. Setting your phone as a hotspot for more than 20 minutes however will lead to some damage in the battery due to overheating. There are other ways your phone could suffer as well, such as slower speeds and infection from hacks and malware, especially when performing heavy tasks like downloading heavy files or streaming high-definition videos.
Table of Contents
The main issues with mobile hotspots
While mobile hotspots are convenient, there are three major issues they have, which can lead to possible phone damage.
Slower speeds
Because the hotspot uses cellular data that tends to be slower than broadband and Wi-Fi connections, the gradual speed forces you to use the hotspot longer. This is more prevalent when you are performing activities that demand high amounts of bandwidth. The quality and speed of the connection will also change instantly when your phone runs out of data. To avoid this, it is best to use hotspots only when performing urgent tasks that need an internet connection, as well as reducing the number of devices that are connected to the hotspot.
Battery drainage
The biggest problem hotspot use poses is the battery drainage, even though this does not affect the other inner phone components. The consumption of energy by the phone when it is in hotspot mode is about 1.5 to 2 watts, which is equivalent to 0.3 to 0.5A per minute. If you connect your phone to a power source while using it in this mode, the battery will always remain full.
Mobile hotspots demand more power because they are relaying data within the network while also sending information to all connected devices, and results in higher phone temperatures. If you frequently use the hotspot feature on your phone, you can minimize the problem by investing in a separate mobile device that you can use as a hotspot.
Additionally, you can save your battery life by turning off any unnecessary services in the background that you do not need, and adjust screen brightness. These services include the Wi-Fi network, location services, push notifications and the syncing of emails. Placing your phone on a cool, flat surface also helps in reducing the heating rate and ensuring the battery drains slower.
Possible hacking
The phone creates a two-way communication street when you activate its hotspot feature, but an unintended result is that it leaves you vulnerable to attacks from guests through packet sniffing. This leaves your phone prone to damage if it is hacked or infected by viruses and other malware. The way to avoid this is through upgrading the security by circumventing the network, as well as only allowing those you trust to tether to your device.
Inherent risks of mobile hotspots and their solutions
The problem causing damage to the phone |
How to solve it |
Slow internet speeds |
This is avoidable. Reduce the number of devices connected to the hotspot |
Draining of battery |
Unavoidable issue. Reduce screen brightness, turn off any unnecessary activities in the background, plug in the phone while using it as a hotspot, and place the phone on a cool surface. |
Possible hacks or malware |
Avoidable issue. Only allow access to trusted devices, upgrade security levels. |
Conclusion
Mobile hotspots are highly convenient when you need to access the internet without relying on unsafe public Wi-Fi networks or spending much on broadband connections. However, it is important to also keep in mind that long term or frequent use of these hotspots risks long term damage to your phone, so it is always better to use it as a backup option when you cannot access the internet.
FAQs
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Why does the phone get hot when I am using it in hotspot mode?
This is because it is accessing the internet and passing a high volume of data simultaneously, which places a high demand on the CPU power.
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Is the decrease in long term performance part of the result of using my phone as a hotspot?
This depends on the use of the hotspot – if you are performing activities that demand a lot of bandwidth from the phone and connected devices like your laptop, it will result in decreasing performance.
