This USB-C accessory gave my iPhone and Android an unexpectedly useful superpower
Source: ZDNet
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Heat It is available on Amazon for $30 (limited‑time offer).
- It heats up via your smartphone and reduces swelling and itchiness from bug bites.
- Power consumption is modest, but it does draw a small amount of charge from your phone.
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As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors (and who once contracted Lyme disease), I often forget to apply insect repellent. The other night I spent the last half of a five‑mile walk swarmed by houseflies—annoying, but at least they don’t bite.
Horseflies, however, are a different story. They bite, gnaw through fabric, and leave super‑itchy welts that can become infected if scratched.
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Introducing Heat It
I discovered Heat It, a smartphone‑powered insect‑bite healer that attaches to a keychain. 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 phones and newer iPhones.
- Lightning version for older iPhones.
- Use the app to heat the dongle’s tip (up to 124 °F / 51 °C).
- Apply the warm tip to the bite and wait for the timer to finish.
Photo: Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET
The app offers:
- Adult and child modes
- Sensitive‑skin mode
- Short, medium, and long treatment times
The app guides you through each step, so there’s no need to worry about complexity.
Why heat? 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 treatment uses less than 0.1 % of your smartphone’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: Far better than any over‑the‑counter cream or ointment I’ve used.
- Comfort: The tip gets mildly hot but never painful.
- Duration: The itch‑relief lasted a few hours; for particularly stubborn bites I applied multiple “zaps” throughout the day, and a final zap before bedtime prevented sleep‑scratching.
Photo: Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET
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I appreciate the tiny form factor of Heat It—no expiration dates, no charging required, and no ongoing maintenance. As long as I have a smartphone, I’m ready for those pesky bites.
Photo: Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET Buying Advice
At $40 (or $30 on sale at the time of writing), the Heat It device 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 insects, I highly recommend this unusual product. It definitely has a place in my kit.