Here's why Apple might introduce a new thermal management upgrade with this year's iPhone 17 Pro models.
iPhone 17 Pro could feature a redesigned camera layout, as per leaked design renders
Photo Credit: FrontPageTech/ @asherdipps
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro models might offer better heat management than the current iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, thanks to a new vapour chamber (VC) cooling system. Information leaked by a tipster reveals that Apple might make some hardware changes to the iPhone 17 Pro, in time for the arrival of its upcoming A19 Pro chip. These could improve the overall thermal efficiency of the smartphones, which are expected to offer improved performance over the current flagship models.
Citing an "internal" source, a tipster identified as Majin Bu states that Apple will equip the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max with a new vapour chamber cooling system. Until now, Apple has relied on graphite sheets for heat dissipation, and the iPhone 17 Pro models could join several Android smartphones that have already integrated this technology.
Vapour chambers typically feature a liquid that evaporates when a portion of the device heats up, then condenses in another area and is moved back to cool the hot section again. The use of VC cooling systems on Android smartphones shows us that it can lower system temperatures and prevent overheating and thermal throttling.
According to the leaker, Apple is switching to the more advanced cooling system for the iPhone 17 Pro models due to the upcoming A19 Pro chip, which is said to "generate substantial heat" during heavy AI or graphics intensive workloads. The tipster also claims that Apple could use the metallic frame of the iPhone 17 Pro for passive heat dissipation.
Previous reports indicate that Apple could use aluminium for some parts of the iPhone 17 Pro chassis. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models feature a titanium frame, but the use of aluminium could allow Apple to reduce the weight of the handset while improving thermal efficiency.
Unlike the iPhone 17 Pro models, the standard iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 17 Air model could feature the same heat dissipation features as the company's current smartphones. Meanwhile, the Pro models could offer better performance when using the phone for extended periods, fewer instances of thermal throttling and improved energy efficiency.
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