Apple is reportedly planning to introduce a new tool in the iPhone 17 Pro models to keep the device cool. Talk of Apple using a vapor chamber to manage internal heat dates back to 2021, when industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested Apple was testing this feature for the iPhone 13. While it didn’t make an appearance then, Kuo revisited the idea in August, saying the vapor chamber could be implemented in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models to help manage heat from the powerful A19 and A19 Pro chips.
If you’re a believer in the saying “where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” the recent rumors might sound promising. 
Early this year, another report suggested that Apple was indeed looking at adding a vapor chamber to the iPhone 17 lineup to prevent overheating issues caused by the new chipsets.
Currently, Apple uses graphene sheets in the iPhone 16 series to help draw heat away from the A18 and A18 Pro chips, directing it to cooler parts of the phone. The company also replaced the foil covering the batteries in the iPhone 15 with a metal shield to spread out the heat more effectively. Additionally, the metal and glass construction of the phone itself helps keep temperatures in check.
The latest tip from leaker Majin Bu further supports the vapor chamber theory, claiming that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature a vapor chamber. This sealed metallic chamber contains a small amount of liquid that evaporates when the device heats up. The vapor moves across the device, returning to liquid as the temperature drops, creating a cycle that allows the phone to cool down quickly without throttling the processor’s performance.
Majin Bu, known for a mix of accurate and inaccurate leaks, suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro models will face more thermal challenges due to their advanced processors and high-performance displays. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air models are expected to rely on traditional cooling methods.
If the vapor chamber works as intended, users should notice that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max stay cool even during heavy use, like gaming or extended video sessions, where phones often heat up.