This USB-C accessory gave my iPhone and Android a surprisingly useful functionality
Source: ZDNet
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Price & availability: The Heat It is on Amazon for $30 (limited‑time offer).
- How it works: It plugs into your smartphone, heats up, and reduces swelling and itchiness from bug bites.
- Power usage: The device draws only a tiny amount of power (≈0.1 % of a phone’s battery per treatment).
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As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors (and who’s dealt with Lyme disease), I often forget to apply insect repellent. The other night I spent the last half of a five‑mile walk in a thick cloud of houseflies—annoying, but at least they don’t bite.
Horseflies, however, are a different story. They bite, their bites are super itchy, and scratching can lead to infection.
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Why I tried Heat It
When I discovered Heat It, a smartphone‑powered insect‑bite healer, I was intrigued. It’s a tiny dongle that attaches to a key‑chain. Here’s how it works:
- Download the app – available for both iOS and Android.
- Plug the dongle into your phone –
- USB‑C version for Android and newer iPhones: Amazon link
- Lightning version for older iPhones: Amazon link
- Heat the tip – the app raises the temperature to a maximum of 124 °F / 51 °C.
- Apply to the bite – press the heated tip onto the bite and let the timer run.
The app includes modes for adults, children, sensitive skin, and three treatment lengths (short, medium, long). It guides you step‑by‑step, so there’s no guesswork.
Applying heat to an insect bite has been shown to reduce swelling, especially when done soon after the bite occurs. The manufacturer claims the device is medically proven, and each use consumes less than 0.1 % of your phone’s battery.
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My testing
I tried Heat It on a variety of bites—horsefly, mosquito, dog flea, and other random insects. The results were impressive:
- Effectiveness: The heat reduced itching and swelling far better than any over‑the‑counter cream I’ve used.
- Comfort: Even at the maximum setting, the tip was only mildly warm, never painful.
- Duration: The itch‑relief lasted a few hours. For particularly stubborn bites, I needed multiple “zaps” throughout the day, and using it before bedtime prevented sleep‑scratching.
USB‑C version that works with Android smartphones and newer iPhones. — Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET
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I appreciate the tiny form factor of Heat It. It has no expiration date, requires no charging, and needs only a smartphone to operate. As long as I have a phone, I’m ready for those pesky bites.
Thermal image of the business end of Heat It in action. — Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET’s Buying Advice
At $40 (or $30 on sale at the time of writing), Heat It isn’t cheap, but it’s a price I’m happy to pay for effective bite relief.
- I’ve probably saved more than that on creams and ointments.
- I’ve also experienced far fewer side‑effects from bites going bad because I can’t resist scratching them.
If you spend time outdoors and have to contend with pesky bites, I highly recommend this unusual product. It definitely has a place in my kit.