Apple’s latest flagship devices, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, have been plagued by overheating issues since their launch in September. Many users reported that their phones became excessively hot and drained the battery quickly when using certain apps, such as Instagram and Uber. Apple released an update in October that fixed a bug that caused the overheating, but some users are still experiencing the problem.
One of the possible reasons for the overheating is the use of titanium for the frame of the iPhone 15 Pro models, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International. Titanium is a strong and lightweight material, but it is also less efficient at conducting heat than steel, which was used in previous iPhone models. This means that the heat generated by the phone’s components is not dissipated well, resulting in a warmer device.
Samsung, which also used titanium for its Galaxy S24 Ultra model, addressed this issue by increasing the size of the vapor chamber inside the phone. A vapor chamber is a cooling system that consists of a metal container filled with liquid. When the phone’s processor gets hot, the liquid evaporates and absorbs the heat. Then, the vapor condenses and returns to the liquid state, completing the cycle. Kuo said that Apple may adopt a similar solution for its future iPhone models, as the company has been working on a vapor chamber technology since 2021.
However, there are also other rumors that suggest different ways for Apple to deal with the overheating problem. One rumor claims that Apple will use a metal shell for the batteries of the iPhone 16 Pro models, which could help reduce the heat transfer from the processor. Another rumor proposes that Apple will use a graphene layer on the phone’s processor, which could enhance the heat dissipation compared to the graphite pads that are currently used.
Graphene is a thin layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It has remarkable properties, such as high strength, flexibility, and thermal conductivity. Graphene could be a better option than a vapor chamber for Apple, as it would not add any bulk or weight to the phone. However, graphene is also a very expensive and difficult material to produce, which could pose some challenges for mass production.
Whatever method Apple chooses, the ultimate goal is to prevent the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max from overheating, and to provide a comfortable and reliable user experience. Apple has not officially commented on the overheating issue or its plans for the next iPhone generation, so we will have to wait and see what the company has in store for us.