Charging your phone under a pillow or on soft bedding can lead to dangerous heat build-up and fire risks, while also impairing sleep quality, experts caution.
Many people fall asleep with a phone within arm’s reach, but keeping it under a pillow or on top of bedding carries a straightforward hazard: heat build-up. The Standard, a Bulgarian outlet, reports that the real danger is not some vague form of “radiation” but the fact that a charging handset cannot shed heat properly when trapped against soft materials.
That warning is backed by fire-safety guidance. The US National Fire Protection Association says electronic devices should be charged on a hard surface and specifically advises against placing them under a pillow, on a bed or on a sofa. The same risk applies to tablets, laptops, power banks and other rechargeable devices, particularly if cables, chargers or batteries are damaged.
Technology adviser Akin Ibitoye has made a similar point in comments carried by Channelstv and Punch, saying sleeping with a phone under a pillow or beside the bed can raise the risk of overheating and, in extreme cases, battery failure. Lithium-ion batteries can fail when badly stressed, so swelling, unusual heat or a strange smell should be treated as a warning sign, not ignored until morning.
Sleep quality is the other concern. The Cleveland Clinic says using a smartphone before bed can make it harder to fall asleep because the screen and the content both stimulate the brain, while other sleep-focused advice from health publications recommends leaving the device on a nightstand or across the room. In practical terms, the simplest habit is also the safest: charge the phone on a firm, open surface and keep it out of the bed.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
