As many increasingly rely on our smartphones for everything from morning alarms to late-night reading, it's not uncommon to find these devices snuggled up next to us in bed.

However, a stark warning from Apple, amplified by tech enthusiast Scott Polderman, urged us to rethink our bedtime habits with our iPhones.



In a video that has captured the attention of over 1.4 million viewers, Polderman highlighted the potential dangers of charging your iPhone in bed, especially under pillows or blankets.

The risk of fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to the device is significantly heightened when the phone is covered and unable to properly ventilate.


Apple's guidelines are clear: iPhones, cables, and power adapters should be kept in a well-ventilated area when in use or charging.

They also cautioned against charging the device for extended periods, which often happens when we plug in our phones overnight.

Apple’s warning caught Polderman’s attention because he had a habit of charging his phone overnight.

‘Apple has issued a warning on charging your iPhone overnight,’ Polderman explained in his video.

‘If you have the phone next to the bed plugged in, and you fall asleep and it is under the cover or ends up under your pillow and it can’t get ventilation, that’s when it can cause injury.’



But it's not just the phone itself that poses a risk.

Polderman said the second warning is about the charging cable. He advised not to have prolonged skin contact with the cord, especially when sleeping.

‘The bottom line is, you want to make sure your phone is not in bed with you,’ he said.

Apple warned users against prolonged skin contact with the charging cable and connector when connected to a power source.

The company advises on its website, 'Sleeping or sitting on the charging cable or connector should be avoided.'

‘Use common sense to avoid situations where your skin is in contact with a device, its power adapter, or a wireless charger when it’s operating or connected to a power source for long periods of time.’

Specifically, Apple stated, 'Do not sleep on a device, power adapter, or wireless charger, or place them under a blanket, pillow, or your body when it's connected to a power source.'



People have shared harrowing stories in response to Polderman’s video.

‘I’ve had a second-degree burn with my pants on after I fell asleep with my MacBook on my bed,’ one said.

Another shared, ‘I nearly set my bed on fire, I have a huge burn on my arm by falling asleep on my phone.’

‘I accidentally left mine in my bed the other night and woke up three hours later, and it was like a branding iron,’ a third added.

You can watch Polderman’s video below:

Research also found that charging your phone overnight can also be unnecessary.

In a previous story, an Associate Professor of Information and Communications Technology at CQUniversity Australia explained why you should not charge your phones overnight.

He also discussed the recommendations on how to prevent compromising your phone’s battery health. You can read more about it here.
Do you charge your phone overnight? Are you aware of these guidelines? Let us know in the comments below.