A recent leak suggests that the upcoming iPhone 17 could feature a new vapor chamber cooling system. If accurate, this would mark the first implementation of such technology in the iPhone series. Currently, iPhones utilize a passive cooling method, relying on the metal and glass of their bodies.
However, during demanding tasks, users often receive warnings indicating that the device needs to cool down, temporarily hindering its use. The report from Majin Bu, who has a mixed reputation for reliability, indicates that the vapor chamber cooling mechanism will be introduced with the iPhone 17, anticipated for release this fall. Although the report cites an “internal source,” it acknowledges that the design is “still evolving,” which implies that there may be challenges to resolve.
Vapor chambers have become common in many Android devices because they effectively dissipate heat during heavy usage, such as gaming. The cooling process involves the transfer of heat from the device to a liquid within the chamber. This liquid then evaporates and travels across a plate in the device, eventually cooling back into liquid form.
This mechanism allows for more efficient heat management. Discussions about enhancing iPhone cooling systems have surfaced for some time. Earlier reports hinted at Apple’s intentions to adopt an active cooling method for the iPhone lineup, with TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo initially bringing attention to the notion in August 2024.
Kuo speculated that vapor chamber cooling might be reserved for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models only. Additionally, Bu claims there may be new pastel color options for the iPhone 17 lineup. The push for improved cooling solutions stems from the increasing capabilities and computational demands of Apple’s technologies.
Bu also notes that a heat-spreading metal plate will be included to further assist with temperature management. Moreover, Apple is rumored to transition to lighter chassis materials such as aluminum, which are better at dissipating heat compared to past methods, including thermal paste and graphite sheets.
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