Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jul 16
Apple Boosts Vapor Chamber Orders for 10 Million Foldable iPhones as 2027 Anniversary Models Loom
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jul 16

Apple Boosts Vapor Chamber Orders for 10 Million Foldable iPhones as 2027 Anniversary Models Loom

2 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jul 16

Summary

  • Apple has increased orders for vapor chamber cooling parts that a Chinese leaker says are headed first to its book-style foldable iPhone, expected to debut in September.
  • About 10 million foldable iPhones are now reportedly planned for 2026 production, up from an earlier 7 million to 8 million forecast, signaling stronger manufacturing preparation.
  • Vapor chamber cooling would help address the foldable model’s tighter internal space and heat-dissipation limits, while a heavily redesigned anniversary iPhone could need similar thermal upgrades.
  • Apple first brought vapor chamber cooling to the iPhone 17 Pro last year, using deionized water to spread heat from the A19 Pro chip through the aluminum frame.
  • The 20th-anniversary lineup is expected in 2027 with two models and a nearly borderless, four-side curved glass design, extending Apple’s broader push toward more ambitious hardware redesigns.

Insights

As Apple adds costly cooling for its foldable iPhone, will users face a significant price hike for better performance?
Is Apple's big bet on advanced cooling driven by its new foldable design or its future ambitions for on-device AI?
Is vapor chamber cooling a long-term solution or just a temporary fix in the mobile thermal management arms race?