Been thinking about replacing the current smartphone, as the touchscreen seems to be failing(Screen replacement seems to be not so economic).

Saw different colours being offered. Black, White, Blueish and Greenish colours were common.

Does the external body colour affect the efficiency of the phone? Like, in heat going out or going in? Or the ease of cleaning it? White colours seem to show presence of dust etc?

And are there other places where the colour matters?
I’ve read that white roofs generally have a lower heat gain than other ones(without infrared reflecting paint).

  • @[email protected]
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    15 hours ago

    The answer is yes! It depends on the type of material and the goals. For instance, the iPhone 4 was supposed to have a white version on release but it was delayed. Apple eventually blamed the different in heat and UV radiation being different, if I remember correctly. Vague rumors that it messed with the proximity sensor also floated around. This was during the antenna-gate “you’re holding it wrong” era. Could be all BS and there was no formal explanation given.

    Most times it probably doesn’t affect very much but manufacturing engineers spend a lot of R&D to make sure it doesn’t by the time things to get to consumers!

  • GHiLA
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    611 hours ago

    slaps a black vinyl case on every phone I buy, ever

    Nope!

    • @multifariace
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      24 hours ago

      The number of misconceptions from this allusion far exceeded my expectations.

      • @Balthazar
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        56 hours ago

        No, just a pre-internet meme about red cars.

      • BougieBirdie
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        1618 hours ago

        This is a reference to Warhammer 40k, a tabletop gaming / book / video game franchise

        The Orkz in the setting paint their war trucks red because they believe it makes them go faster. And it does, in fact, make them go faster

        • @davidgro
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          1218 hours ago

          Note that it makes them go faster directly because the orcs believe it does, they are a collectively psychic species, so if enough of them believe something, then it’s true.

          • slazer2au
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            311 hours ago

            Just like one smart boy writing engine on a rock. When enough Orks believe the rock is an engine it will in fact become an engine.

            Which confused the shit out of humans when they go to reverse engineer ork stuff.

  • @[email protected]
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    16 hours ago

    Yes, surface material and colour can affect the thermal performance of a device. However when it comes to a smartphone with different colours this difference is almost certainly negligible.

    Heat is transmitted by 3 methods, conduction, convection and radiation. For radiation heat transfer there are two properties that affect how much heat is transmitted/absorbed by the surface, temperature and emissivity. Generally darker colours have higher emissivity than lighter colours or reflective surfaces, but different colours of a phone are going to be close assuming they are the same material and radiation is a minor component in cooling a phone.

  • Da Bald Eagul
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    1421 hours ago

    In terms of heat, efficiency etc., the difference would be negligible if it’s even there to begin with.

    The only real difference you’d see is dirt build-up, which would be more noticable on lighter colors. This would still occur on darker colors but you wouldn’t see it as easily.

  • @[email protected]
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    21 hours ago

    i have found that brighter ones can be easier to find at the bottom of a bag or on the counter

    • Tiefling IRL
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      220 hours ago

      I bought a small metal clip that hangs out the charging port of my case and tied a ribbon to it. I also keep my phone on a neon lanyard during big events or when I don’t have pockets.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      020 hours ago

      Indeed.
      I had read an article that said that black cars may be more likely to get into accidents, citing some study. Not sure if it was confirmed by other studies, but it seems to be a good point to consider.

  • @[email protected]
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    20 hours ago

    Perhaps a lighter/reflective color can keep its temperature lower for longer if you think you might leave it lying under the sun? Overheating damages the battery