topic Re: Magnets and Cell Phones in Electronics

Magnets and Cell Phones

geezerette — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 19:50:08 GMT

I've Googled this question a few times and never gotten a very satisfactory answer: Is it safe to have a magnet near your cell phone?

I have a couple of bags that have perfect sized pockets for my IPhone 6s+. But they have magnetic closures. There is fabric between the magnet and the phone, of course, but the magnet is basically on the phone. (I only have a plastic cover on the back of the phone itself, it doesn't cover the screen.)

I've read a couple of articles that said a magnet will interfere with the phone's GPS, but once the phone is removed from the magnet, it's okay. Others have said it can interfere with the entire workings of the phone, and yet others say magnets don't bother cell phones at all.

I'm leery of putting my phone that close to a magnet, but so many handbag/tote designs have that for a closure on their designated phone pocket. Does anybody have any information or opinions about this?

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

mercyMe — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 20:13:15 GMT

I was leery too .... took my cell phone to an AT&T Store and showed them my wallet with a magnetic closure ... their opinion was to be cautious. The magnet should not be "against" the cell phone. (My Samsung S5 has a plastic protector on too).

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

hckynut — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 20:15:22 GMT

@geezerette

I can't answer your question about magnets versus "i" anything. I can however tell you this.

If you remember the old VHS/VCR tapes, they said: do not keep tape in close proximity with any magnet. Now I had high floor standing speakers that had very strong magnets. I many times stacked a few of my tapes on them, none permanently. I never had any recorded information magnetically removed from any of my VHS or SVHS tapes.

Maybe try an iPhone store and ask them. I would hope they would know the answer? I hear how great their CS reps are supposed to be.

hckynut(john)

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

2blonde — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 20:15:28 GMT

@geezerette I'm thinking that once the magnetic closure is "closed," it probably seals off the magnetic field at least enough to not be a problem. I have purses with magnets that are quite near where the actual cell phone pocket is.

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Mz iMac — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 20:31:46 GMT

@geezerette

Can't answer your question but, I do know key bobs (magnetic?) can wipe out credit cards as well as any card that has a "swipe" thingie on the back.

Lesson learned for me - Never place a key bob near anything w/a "swipe" thingie.

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Sooner — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:12:03 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@geezerette

Can't answer your question but, I do know key bobs (magnetic?) can wipe out credit cards as well as any card that has a "swipe" thingie on the back.

Lesson learned for me - Never place a key bob near anything w/a "swipe" thingie.

Key fob? Or are you talking about something I don't know about? And in today's world, that is HIGHLY possible. . .

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Nuttmeg — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 05:34:04 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@geezerette

Can't answer your question but, I do know key bobs (magnetic?) can wipe out credit cards as well as any card that has a "swipe" thingie on the back.

Lesson learned for me - Never place a key bob near anything w/a "swipe" thingie.
Key fob? Or are you talking about something I don't know about? And in today's world, that is HIGHLY possible. . .

@Sooner Most credit card today have a chip. You do not swipe them.

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Desertdi — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 08:57:17 GMT

Perry Mason once wiped off an audio tape with a magnet.......(!!)

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Sooner — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 14:28:01 GMT

@Nuttmeg wrote:
@Sooner wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@geezerette

Can't answer your question but, I do know key bobs (magnetic?) can wipe out credit cards as well as any card that has a "swipe" thingie on the back.

Lesson learned for me - Never place a key bob near anything w/a "swipe" thingie.
Key fob? Or are you talking about something I don't know about? And in today's world, that is HIGHLY possible. . .
@Sooner Most credit card today have a chip. You do not swipe them.

@Mz iMac No, I was asking if a "key bob" is another term for "key fob" or are they different. I know about chips, although around here you still swipe sometimes.

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Mz iMac — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 18:51:21 GMT

@Nuttmeg @Sooner

Key "fob" is probably the correct name. I've always called them key "bob."

Let me Google research to find out the correct name...........................................................

Key FOB is the winner!!!!!!!!

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Sooner — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 20:57:41 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Nuttmeg @Sooner

Key "fob" is probably the correct name. I've always called them key "bob."

Let me Google research to find out the correct name...........................................................

Key FOB is the winner!!!!!!!!

LOL!!! I am disappointed here! I thought for sure I was gonna learn about something new and want a KEY BOB!!!! Maybe we should INVENT one? It would open the door automatically and sort through the mail for you! LOL!!!

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

geezerette — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 22:54:43 GMT

Well, thanks for all your replies. I guess the only consensus is about the same as I found in my searching: maybe!

I suppose I'll continue to play it safe and keep my cell phone away from the magnets in my bags, or anything else. I didn't care when I had a flip phone, but this one costs the equivalent of a computer and I don't want to screw it up over something like this!

Thanks again. 🙂

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

Marp — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 01:36:33 GMT

@geezerette, from what I've found small magnets like those used on cell phone cases, handbags and such will not hurt your smartphone. Strong magnets can.

This article might be useful: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-magnets-really-affect-phones-hard-drives/

There are other articles that I have not checked that may also provide you the information you need to make an informed decision. http://www.dogpile.com/search/web?fcoid=417&fcop=topnav&fpid=27&q=do+magnets+harm+smartphones&ql=

Re: Magnets and Cell Phones

geezerette — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 16:48:58 GMT

@Marp, Thanks for the articles. The first was one of the ones that I've actually already read. I haven't tried the others you've listed as yet.

It's not an earth-shattering problem, but I was curious and this is always a good place to get information you can't find elsewhere.👍