Fishing in cold weather, especially during ice fishing, presents a unique challenge for anglers using sonar technology with an iPad or iPhone. One of the biggest issues? Battery performance in freezing temperatures.
Why Does the iPad Battery Struggle in the Cold?
Apple devices, like most lithium-ion battery-powered electronics, are sensitive to extreme temperatures. When exposed to freezing conditions, battery efficiency drops, leading to:
- Faster battery drain
- Unexpected shutdowns
- Difficulty powering back on
This can be frustrating when using your iOS&ipadOS devices in cold environments, here is what we did.

The Solution: Using a Body Warmer
After testing various solutions, we found that attaching one or two adhesive body warmers to the back of an iPad or iPhone about 10 minutes before use is a simple, cost-effective way to keep it running smoothly in freezing conditions.

How It Works:
- Choose a suitable adhesive body warmer
- Attach it to the back of your iPad – ideally in the center or near the battery location.
- Put on before start to use on the ice.
- Monitor the device – Monitor the device – Safety comes first. Don’t forget to fully charge your iPad before heading out, and keep it plugged into a battery bank whenever possible to maintain a stable power supply.

Real-World Testing: What We Found
We tested this method during ice fishing trips in temperatures below -10°C (14°F) and found that:
The iPad stayed powered on significantly longer and function smoothly.