The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to incorporate vapor chamber cooling technology, addressing potential overheating concerns. This information comes from a Weibo post by Chinese leaker Instant Digital, who claims both Pro models will utilize this advanced cooling solution. This contradicts earlier reports suggesting the feature would be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro Max or included in all iPhone 17 models.
Instant Digital stated, “It is confirmed that 17 Pro/17 Pro Max will use steam cavity [i.e. vapor chamber] to dissipate heat. Pro has no knife method, and with A19 Pro’s stronger thermal management, high load and high performance basically do not reduce the frequency.” This suggests the vapor chamber, coupled with the A19 Pro chip’s thermal management, will prevent performance throttling under heavy workloads.
Overheating has been a recurring issue with previous iPhone models, particularly the Pro versions. Our review of the iPhone 16 Pro highlighted its tendency to overheat when switching between apps, especially work-related ones. While the A18 Pro chip delivered excellent performance, it also contributed to heat generation. The phone’s graphite-clad aluminum substructure aided in heat dissipation, but the glass display hindered efficient heat transfer.
The iPhone 15 Pro’s overheating problems, however, were primarily attributed to software issues with third-party apps. Apple subsequently released software updates to resolve these issues.
The inclusion of vapor chamber cooling in the iPhone 17 Pro models could significantly improve heat management and prevent performance degradation. However, it remains to be seen whether this rumor will prove accurate and how effectively the technology will address previous overheating concerns. We await official confirmation from Apple on this matter.
