Apple Working on Graphene Thermal System for Improved Heat Management on iPhone 16, Tipster Claims

Apple might be developing a hardware solution to keep the purported iPhone 16 series running cooler than their predecessors.

Written by David Delima, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 17 November 2023 12:10 IST

Apple Working on Graphene Thermal System for Improved Heat Management on iPhone 16, Tipster Claims

The successor to the iPhone 15 Pro Max (pictured) might offer better thermal management

Highlights

Apple is tipped to equip the iPhone 16 with a new heat management system
The iPhone 16 might not be equipped with a copper heat sink
Apple may also house the iPhone 16 battery in a metal bracket

Apple's iPhone 16 series could be equipped with a revamped thermal management system, according to information leaked by a tipster. The company's purported successors to the iPhone 15 lineup — that was affected by heating issues — could be equipped with a material that could offer improved thermal conductivity compared to Apple's current solution. Android smartphone makers have, in recent years, adopted novel mechanisms — including vapour cooling chambers — to keep temperatures in check. Apple is also tipped to house the battery of the iPhone 16 with a metal bracket for better cooling than the company's existing models.

The Cupertino company is developing a graphene-based thermal management system that will arrive with the iPhone 16 series, according to a post by tipster Kosutami (@KosutamiSan) on X (formerly known as Twitter). Apple's current smartphones — including the current-generation iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max — are equipped with a copper heat sink to keep temperatures in check while the phone is in use.

In addition to the rumoured adoption of graphene, Apple will also equip the iPhone 16 with a metal bracket that will house the handset's battery, according to the tipster. The combination of these changes is expected to offer better heat dissipation for the ship and the battery.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Action-Packed

If Apple does change the material used for thermal management on the iPhone 16 series, it could potentially help the company resolve challenges with heat dissipation at the hardware level. Earlier this year, the company admitted that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were affected by heating issues, but said these problems were related to software bugs and app optimisation issues — the company said it fixed these issues with the iOS 17.0.3 update that rolled out last month.

However, it is advisable to view these claims with a degree of scepticism — it has only been a couple of months since Apple launched the iPhone 15 and we are likely to hear more details about the iPhone 16 in the coming months, ahead of its expected arrival in the second half of 2024.

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Apple iPhone 15

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Big upgrades over the 14
Excellent ergonomics, build quality
Very good all-round performance
Apple ecosystem benefits

Bad
Relatively slow charging
Expensive
Still a 60Hz display

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Excellent display
USB Type-C
AAA gaming
Excellent all-round performance
Good primary and telephoto camera
Customisable Action Button

Bad
Gets hot quickly when stressed
Slow wired charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: iPhone 16, Apple, iPhone 16 specifications, iPhone thermal management, iPhone

David Delima

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As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More