Did you know that weather affects your gadgets? Here's how winter can damage your favourite devices

livemint.com:

1. Battery PerformanceEffect: Lithium-ion batteries commonly used in smartphones, laptops, and wearables perform poorly in cold temperatures. The chemical reactions inside the battery slow down, leading to reduced capacity and faster draining.

In extreme cold, the battery might stop working temporarily or suffer permanent damage.For example: Phones may shut down unexpectedly when exposed to freezing temperatures for long periods.2. Condensation riskEffect: Transitioning from a cold environment to a warm one creates condensation inside gadgets, especially on internal circuits. This can lead to short-circuits, corrosion, or long-term damage.For example: Fogged-up camera lenses or malfunctioning screens due to internal moisture.3. Display issuesEffect: LCD and OLED screens can become sluggish in cold temperatures.

Pixels may respond more slowly, leading to ghosting or delayed screen refresh rates.For example: Tablets and smartphones may feel unresponsive outdoors in subzero temperatures.Top laptops for you:4. Mechanical failuresEffect: Devices with moving parts, such as hard drives, are sensitive to cold. The lubricant inside hard drives can thicken, causing performance issues or even failures.For example: Laptops with HDDs may boot slower or experience hardware malfunctions in cold weather.5. Structural damageEffect: Materials like glass and plastic become brittle in freezing temperatures, making them more prone to cracking or breaking.For example: Smartphone screens may shatter more easily if dropped outdoors during winter.6. Reduced sensor efficiencyEffect: Wearables like smartwatches and fitness bands may struggle to maintain accurate readings in extreme cold.For example: Heart rate monitors or GPS trackers may lose