Apple has had a history of overheating issues with some of its flagship iPhones, causing concerns for both safety and performance. In 2023, owners of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max reported their phones becoming too hot to touch while charging, feeling warm during calls, and experiencing heat even when idle. Performance tests showed a 25% reduction after just two minutes of use.
Apple responded to these complaints with a software update and adjustments to third-party apps, reassuring customers that there were no safety risks or long-term performance impacts. They also noted that new iPhones may run hotter initially. However, users of the iPhone 16 Pro models faced similar overheating problems, with temperature increases during regular activities.
The demand for sustained performance led Apple to develop a solution for the iPhone 17 Pro models. These new models feature the A19 Pro chip, designed to handle tasks like photography, video editing, gaming, and multitasking with 40% more sustained performance than previous models. To enhance cooling, Apple introduced a custom-designed vapor chamber.
What is a Vapor Chamber?
A vapor chamber is a thermal management system used in electronic devices, including the iPhone Pro models. It consists of a thin metal enclosure filled with deionized water that absorbs and dissipates heat from the device’s components. The vapor spreads across the chamber, condenses back into a liquid, and releases heat through the aluminum chassis.
The iPhone 17 Pro models are the first Apple products to utilize vapor chambers for cooling, a technology also present in some Android smartphones. Apple’s engineering efforts to address overheating issues have resulted in innovative cooling solutions for their latest models.
