Kindles are compact handheld E-readers created and sold by Amazon, and many love how they can access their favorite books on the go. If you always have your Kindle with you wherever you are, whether indoors or outdoors, one of your worries may be how it fairs under extreme conditions.
So, how cold can a Kindle get? Amazon is clear that the Kindle works best under temperatures between 32 °F- 95 °F. If the levels drop lower than this, you risk causing irreparable damage to the internal components. For instance, the E-Ink display can freeze, and turning it on in this condition can cause the device to burst or fail to work. The result is gradual slowing down in the performance and the screen turning black.
It is understandable to worry that you will lose your precious Kindle when exposed to extremely hot or cold environments. If you want to bring your Kindle when traveling and the temperatures are too low, your first thought is that it may break down. You may also want to leave it in the car when it is too cold, but you want to know if it will be safe.
Amazon recommends that the Kindle should not be stored under temperatures below 32 °F. Going any lower than this can cause irreversible damage to the system. The oil in the E-Ink display can quickly freeze under extremely low conditions.
Turning it on and using it in this state will also risk the Kindle bursting and failing to work permanently. You will notice it gradually slowing down and the screen freezing beyond repair.
One of the main reasons why electronics fail is due to overexposure to extreme temperatures. It applies to any other gadget, from your phone, laptop, or Kindle. The chances of irreparable damage are high if the manufacturer has not designed it to withstand very low or high levels. If you must take your Kindle outside the house when it is snowing and the conditions are freezing, you may unknowingly risk it since it may break down.
Amazon advises users to keep their kindles under favorable temperatures, between 32 °F- 95 °F or 0 °C- 35 °C. The gadget has a unique construction to get as cold as 32 °F or 0 °C, and the temperatures dropping below this have devastating effects on the internal components. Below the optimal levels, the E-Ink display can freeze, and continuous use after that can bust the device or break it down.
Therefore, checking the levels outside before bringing your Kindle is vital. Amazon states that there are two temperature ranges for the Kindle. The temperature it can operate at and the storage temperature.
The level for operation means the prevailing conditions when using your gadget or the range that is safe for you to read using your Kindle. Conversely, the storing temperature level is for retailers stocking them before selling.
Kindle Storage Temperature
The storing temperatures for the device should be from 14°F to 113°F or -10°C to 45°C. Therefore, if you have to take your Kindle under extreme cold, you will be safer leaving it on sleep mode and turning off wireless connections or switching it off because it will not run. Otherwise, the device will still perform some operations when you leave it on, even when not actively using it.
Thankfully, there are some ways to cold proof your Kindle under extreme temperatures. First, you should always have an insulated case to help keep out the low temperatures outside. You can also wrap it in a bubble envelope to serve as extra insulation, and while at it, avoid exposing it directly to the cold.
You can keep it in your bag in the warmest place or in your pocket to take from your body’s heat. Lastly, if the Kindle has been in contact with the cold, your safest bet is to let it rest and warm up before using it.
Can a Kindle be left in a cold car and freeze?
Growth in tech has simplified tasks, and you can now carry all your favorite books in one gadget. People prefer using Kindle because they can take it anywhere and access all the content. However, there is one concern from users, what happens when you leave the device in a cold car?
A Kindle cannot withstand freezing temperatures in your car; leaving it can affect its performance or permanently damage it. Amazon recommends a temperature range of 32°F to 95°F, translating to 0°C to 35°C. Keeping the device in a car with temperature readings below the minimum is detrimental. The E-ink used in the Kindle display can solidify and break the screen or fail the whole system.
If you must keep the Kindle in a cold car, you may want to check for the manufacturer’s recommended ambient temperatures. Extreme elements below 32°F in your vehicle can immensely impact your device. For one, the ink responsible for writing on the screen is sensitive to ice-cold environments and can freeze. Besides the liquid on the screen, the gadget’s battery is also at risk of damage.
The power can drain rapidly, causing it to fail due to immensely slowed internal operations. Now that you understand the impact of leaving your Kindle in a cold car, it is best to have some remedies to keep it safe. You can fix a heater inside that will offer the ambient temperatures for the E-reader or wrap it in a fleece blanket and keep it in the warmest parts of your backpack.
Insulating Cases
Finally, you can use insulated cases specially designed to barricade the cold. If you forget the device in your car and find it frozen or inoperable, you don’t have to panic. You can start by long pressing the power button for about thirty seconds and releasing it.
Let the Kindle rest for about two minutes and switch it on. If nothing works, you can repeat the process a few more times or try another remedy.
Using the Kindle’s official charger and brick, plug it into a power source and leave it for about five minutes to power up. This fix works when your battery has completely died due to extreme temperatures.
After the time elapses and while still plugged, long-press the power button for at least thirty seconds, then turn the E-reader on and let it reboot in about three minutes. You can contact Amazon for further assistance if the fixes don’t work.
How hot can a Kindle get?
You may be relocating to a region where the temperatures can get extremely high and don’t want to leave your Kindle behind. If you don’t want to harm your device and have to replace it, you should know the highest temperatures it can withstand.
Amazon states that the Kindle can only get as hot as 95°F and leaving it operating at higher levels can lead to dire consequences. Like any other gadget, it is susceptible to extreme heat and doesn’t handle rapid temperature rises well.
For storage, Amazon designed the device to manage higher levels of up to 113°F, and similarly, increasing past this can affect the Kindle’s performance. Therefore, it is advisable not to leave it in the car when it’s too hot or use it under direct sunlight.
It is understandable to want to carry your Kindle wherever you go, whether you are going to the park or the beach, and you need to stay busy as you read your favorite stories. However, experts strongly advise against this due to the high risks involved. Amazon has placed a limit on the highest temperature to expose the Kindle; leaving it under levels higher than 95°F can lead to irreversible damage and make you lose your device.
Even store owners know that the prevailing conditions should not go past 113°F. Most electronics are sensitive to extreme heat, and manufacturers warn users to be cautious. Therefore, it is best never to leave any gadget in your car since the conditions can quickly escalate. Besides, if it is always scorching during the Summer in your region, you can expect cases like melting given the plastic material.
If you want to carry it outside, it is safer to read under a shade and never place it under direct sunlight. When you leave it for a while when it is hot, some users report that it can cause slight performance issues where it starts lagging. On the other hand, the older Kindles would get “sun fade,” where the texts fade out but would return to normal when the temperatures dropped.
If you return to the house, it is advisable to let the gadget cool down before using it again. The general rule is to touch the Kindle; if you find it warm, you should give it time to cool, which applies to any other device.
Also, remember that there is a risk of condensation when you move the gadget from an extremely hot to a cold environment. The same can happen if you place the Kindle inside a protective case that has heated up.
Is It Ok to leave a Kindle in the sun or even take it into a sauna?
Kindle is a portable library of books that any ardent reader should have for convenience and simplicity, let alone access to all their favorite content. Given how vital the E-reader is, keeping it safe by not exposing it to harmful conditions is essential.
It is not advisable to leave your Kindle under the scorching sun or in extremely hot saunas. The conditions may increase the internal temperatures, cause lagging, or compromise the battery. It is not a great idea to take it into a sauna since you will subject it to heat and moisture that interfere with the logic board. Generally, ensure that the device stays within the recommended temperatures of 32°F and 95°F and never goes beyond or below this.
Damage due to heat is one of the common issues that readers report. It can happen unintentionally while using the device to read at the beach or under direct sunlight, even under shade.
The scorching sun may corrupt the normal functioning of the gadget, cause data loss, or interfere with the E-ink. Luckily, there are a few precautions to take, like ensuring that you read in a well-ventilated place and regularly touch the case to confirm that it is not heating up.
You can also read under a shade like a beach umbrella, which protects the Kindle from direct sunlight and makes using it more comfortable. It may be tempting to bring your Kindle along when relaxing in the sauna because you can pass the time while reading. Unfortunately, the device manufacturer is firmly against using the gadget in a wet and hot room. You will be exposing it to extreme temperatures and moisture simultaneously.
Surprisingly, some users state that their devices are safe when using them in the sauna, leading to a debate about whether Kindles can withstand humidity and high temperatures. Regardless of the type of sauna you use, exposing your Kindle to such conditions is still not a great idea.
For its safety and that of people around you, it is best to keep the gadget away from steam rooms. There is a risk of it catching fire if the battery overheats and breaks. Also, the steam can penetrate inside and interfere with the circuiting system.
The only remedy to avoid melting, exploding, or damaging your costly gadget is to keep it under the recommended conditions. Alternatively, you can be safe by covering the device using an insulator that bars the heat and vapor, ensuring that the Kindle stays protected.
Your best bet is to avoid direct sunlight, and steamy rooms like saunas since temperatures above 95°F may harm the E-reader, and the steam can penetrate the motherboard.
Keep Your Kindle Safe
If you love your Kindle and always want to catch up with your favorite books, you will do anything to keep it protected. The main reason for the device damage is exposure to scorching and freezing temperatures. The safest ranges are between 32°F and 95°F and should never go any higher or lower.
Otherwise, you risk the ink freezing or the battery damaging. You can avoid going outside with it when the levels are not favorable, but if you must, you should carry an insulating case or ensure that you read under a shade. Also, never take it with you into steam rooms or the sauna because the heat and the vapor are detrimental to the device.
