A new phone has a feature that could be very useful for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
There's one area that is becoming more and more important in modern flagships. And it's not the camera.
A new chip shows great promise based on initial benchmark testing. However, cooling is increasingly important for these advanced chips.
Repeated benchmark tests often show a drop in performance compared to initial results. This decline typically happens when the chip's temperature rises and thermal throttling occurs.
Thermal throttling is a built-in safety mechanism that protects silicon chips from damage when they exceed their maximum operating temperature. It reduces performance until the temperature decreases, creating a gap between peak and sustained performance.
In smartphones, thermal throttling can be significant due to the compact design. Heat can easily accumulate, making cooling a crucial factor.
Even high-end phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra can experience thermal throttling. Despite its size, the S25 Ultra's performance significantly drops after the first run of the 3DMark WildLife Extreme stress test. Consecutive Geekbench runs also show lower scores, with stability at 46%, and the phone becomes hot.
A solution exists from a Chinese gaming phone company, RedMagic, with its 11 Pro and its unique cooling system.
The latest RedMagic flagship features a sophisticated active liquid-and-air cooling system. The company claims it is the first of its kind, featuring server-grade fluorinated liquid for cooling. This liquid is non-conductive, thermally stable, and chemically inert, making it ideal for electronics cooling.
RedMagic has miniaturized this liquid cooling system in the 11 Pro.
The system includes a small 0.85 mm ceramic micro-pump, a waterproof fan spinning at 24,000 rpm, and a liquid metal vapor chamber. Together, these components improve cooling efficiency by 50%, according to RedMagic.
This innovation could greatly benefit mainstream flagship phones.
While companies like Apple and Samsung are starting to use vapor chambers, this presents an opportunity for genuinely useful innovation. The Galaxy S26 Ultra may be too close to release to incorporate this radical water cooling feature.
Cooling is an often overlooked aspect of modern phones. All flagships could benefit from RedMagic's system. While new chips boast impressive numbers, sustained performance is rarely discussed.
Smartphones are used for tasks that require sustained performance, making it essential to fully utilize new silicon.
A water-cooled Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 18 Pro Max could be beneficial.
A review of the RedMagic 11 Pro is coming soon, with an in-depth look at its liquid cooling system to determine its effectiveness.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Up to 24GB RAM and 1TB storage
95.3% screen-to-body ratio
BOE X10 under-display luminous materials
8,000mAh battery, 120W wired and 80W wireless fast charging
520Hz shoulder triggers
Dual air-liquid cooling system
Dual 50MP main cameras
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Get 25% off data-only plans with global coverage from Nomad eSIM using code IPHONE25.
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase
Get 25% off data-only plans with global coverage from Nomad eSIM using code IPHONE25.