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Generally, yes: keeping a lithium-ion device from getting excessively hot while it charges can help limit battery aging. But “cool” means within the temperature conditions recommended for that device—not as cold as possible. Very cold charging can slow or pause charging and, in some conditions, contribute to battery damage.

Why charging temperature affects battery life

Charging warms a battery, and excessive heat can speed up the chemical aging that gradually reduces its capacity. Apple says iPhone batteries warm while charging and that heat can reduce their lifespan. Its software also gradually reduces charging current as an iPhone approaches a full charge to help limit heat’s effects. Apple’s iPhone battery guidance describes temperature history and charging pattern as factors in a battery’s chemical age.

Temperature is only one part of battery aging. Google likewise identifies temperature, charging and discharging, and device use as factors for Pixel batteries. So a comfortable charging temperature can help, but it cannot guarantee a particular lifespan or number of extra months or charge cycles.

What “cool” means depends on the device

Manufacturer figures are ambient-air recommendations for specific products, not universal battery-cell temperature targets. Apple’s iPhone guidance and Google’s Pixel guidance give different recommendations:

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Device guidance Ambient-temperature recommendation Scope and response
Apple iPhone 16°C to 22°C (62°F to 72°F) is described as ideal. Apple advises avoiding use or charging above 35°C (95°F); exceeding that ambient temperature can permanently reduce battery lifespan. Apple iPhone guidance, 2025. The figures refer to ambient temperature, not a universal cell-temperature range. iPhone can pause charging in extreme temperatures and uses software to reduce charging current near full charge. Apple Support; Apple battery guide.
Google Pixel About 25°C (78°F) ambient temperature is recommended for charging. Google Pixel guidance; the accessed help page does not state a publication year. Google advises limiting direct sunlight and external heat. Google Pixel Help.

These recommendations are not contradictory: each is guidance for its own product family. Follow the maker’s instructions for your device rather than combining the figures into one rule for every battery.

Why colder is not always better

Low temperatures can reduce battery performance temporarily, and Apple says charging may pause in extreme temperatures. More importantly, a 2019 SAE International study reports faster aging from lithium deposition under the low-temperature charging conditions it examined. The observed effects also depended on charging current and cut-off voltage. This does not establish the same outcome for every battery chemistry or device, but it does show why forcing a battery to the lowest possible temperature is not sound general advice.

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How to keep a device at a sensible charging temperature

  • Charge in an ordinary, comfortable indoor environment and follow your device maker’s temperature guidance.
  • Avoid charging in direct sunlight, a hot vehicle, or another hot location. Google specifically advises Pixel owners to limit sunlight and other external heat sources.
  • Let the device’s built-in temperature protections work. If charging pauses because the device is too hot or cold, address the surrounding conditions and follow the maker’s instructions rather than trying to bypass the safeguard.
  • If the device becomes unusually warm, reduce the heat source and consult the manufacturer’s guidance. Do not put a battery in a refrigerator or freezer or use an improvised cooling setup; the guidance cited here does not support those practices.

What fast-charging research does—and does not—tell you

Charging rate and thermal management matter in battery engineering, but laboratory results are not consumer-device predictions. In a 2019 study of one experimental 2 Ah NMC/graphite pouch cell, Oak Ridge National Laboratory reported that with forced-convection air cooling, the cell’s core temperature rose 22.5°C in five minutes during 7C charging, compared with less than 1.5°C at 1C. The study also estimated an average heat-generation rate 34 times greater during 7C than during 1C constant-current charging. Those measurements illustrate the demands of high-rate charging in that specific experiment; they do not predict how much a particular phone will heat up or how long its battery will last. Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s paper record.

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If the battery has already lost capacity

Temperature-conscious charging can help limit one source of wear, but it cannot restore capacity already lost to aging. For iPhone battery service, Apple directs owners to Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Check your device maker’s service options for other products.

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