Magnets and Cell Phones

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

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?

mercyMe · ‎05-23-2012

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).

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@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)

2blonde · ‎03-10-2010

@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.

Laura loves cats!

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

@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.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@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. . .

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

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

♥Surface of the Sun♥

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@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.