# Will a small crack in the back cover of Samsung Galaxy S4 result in unhealthy level of radiation or whatever from the phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697 "2021-01-28T16:57:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wiskaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/0ea827/32.png) [@wiskaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wiskaz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/1 "2021-01-28T16:57:39Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/2 "2021-01-28T17:39:48Z")
No. No. No. (The actual answer is just “No.” but the SDMB robots won’t allow a simple, 3-character answer). ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/3 "2021-01-28T17:56:32Z")
If the phone is warm to the touch, you need to trash it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/4 "2021-01-28T18:04:22Z")
These things aren’t nuclear powered\*, you know. \*yet ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/5 "2021-01-28T18:08:03Z")
Is it glowing, throwing sparkling rays, or have you recently developed super strength and the ability to ‘hear’ the innermost thoughts of people near you? No? Then you’re probably okay. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/6 "2021-01-28T18:10:33Z")
The Galaxy s4 isn’t 5g capable so it won’t cause COVID. The newer Galaxy phones that ARE 5g capable don’t cause COVID either. 5g has nothing to do with COVID. ---
**Author:** ![wiskaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/0ea827/32.png) [@wiskaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wiskaz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/7 "2021-01-28T18:15:59Z")
and neither did my question. you’re a cool cat though, you are cool. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/8 "2021-01-28T18:17:23Z")
> [@wiskaz](#): > > and neither did my question. you’re a cool cat though, you are cool I didn’t mean to imply you believe it does or that your question had anything to do with COVID, I was just poking fun at the conspiracy theorists who think it does. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/9 "2021-01-28T18:23:33Z")
The whole purpose of the design of a cellular telephone is to let that radiation out. If it had a case that kept it in, you would no longer be in possession of a functioning wireless telephonic device. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/10 "2021-01-28T18:28:05Z")
What kind of radiation do you imagine a cell phone case is protecting you against? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/11 "2021-01-28T18:33:25Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The whole purpose of the design of a cellular telephone is to let that radiation out. If it had a case that kept it in, you would no longer be in possession of a functioning wireless telephonic device. Old electrical engineering joke: Teacher: What makes circuits work? Students: Um, diodes? Resistors? Capacitors? Teacher: Wrong. The correct answer is “smoke”. When you overload the circuit, the smoke escapes, and it doesn’t work anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/12 "2021-01-28T19:36:39Z")
No. It’s SUPPOSED to emit radiation. It works by RADI-o. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/13 "2021-01-28T20:17:20Z")
In my experience, the problem with a small crack is it tends to get bigger. Soon things will come loose and not work, then you’ll need to take it to be recycled. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/14 "2021-01-28T20:35:54Z")
“Radiation” from the phone is not what you need to worry about. I mean I wouldn’t sleep with my head resting on it, but phones need to radiate radio energy to work. That’s how they talk to the cell towers, WiFi, and bluetooth devices. The Galaxy S4 is one of the old classic phones with a replaceable battery. It has a removable back cover that is very thin plastic. It is designed to be popped off if you work your fingernails around the edges. So pop it off and look. If it’s just the cover and not the battery underneath that’s cracked, you’re fine. If the battery is at all damaged I’d replace it. Lithium ion batteries can catch fire if they are punctured. A small crack may be repaired with a little super glue. If you need a new cover somewhere like eBay should have one, just be sure it’s for your exact model of Galaxy S4, there are model variants: [galaxy s4 battery cover in Cell Phone & Smartphone Parts for sale | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2499334.m570.l1313&_nkw=galaxy+s4+battery+cover&_sacat=43304) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/15 "2021-01-28T21:28:57Z")
If the case is going to be protecting anyone from anything, it’ll be protecting the phone from what’s outside, not protecting you from what’s inside. It might stop some moisture, or curious idiots with screwdrivers. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/16 "2021-01-29T00:00:42Z")
No you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/17 "2021-01-29T00:19:23Z")
So if the battery is overheating no biggie? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/18 "2021-01-29T00:24:51Z")
“Warm” and “overheating” are not the same thing. “Overheating” by definition means heating too much (the clue is in the “over” part). But that is not what you said. What you said was “warm” and it is not at all unusual for a phone to get warm during operation. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/19 "2021-01-30T00:31:44Z")
Plastic is not an insulator, so cracks in plastic are not a problem. ---
**Author:** ![MrMrmrmr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrmrmrmr/32/5828_2.png) [@MrMrmrmr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMrmrmr)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697/20 "2021-01-30T00:51:18Z")
You believe it to be a conductor? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-small-crack-in-the-back-cover-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-result-in-unhealthy-level-of-radiation-or-whatever-from-the-phone/931697.md?page=2)