Apple Reportedly Ramps Up Vapor Chamber Orders for Foldable iPhone

[MacRumors]

Apple has ramped up orders for vapor chamber cooling components said to be destined for its upcoming foldable iPhone and 20th-anniversary iPhone models, according to a Chinese leaker.

The Weibo account known as "Fixed Focus Digital" claims the increased order volume will first support the manufacture of Apple's book-style foldable, or "iPhone Ultra," which is expected to debut in September. Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to produce approximately 10 million foldable iPhones in 2026, up from an earlier forecast of seven to eight million units.

Fixed Focus Digital previously said Apple's first foldable iPhone would feature "impressive" vapor chamber cooling, claiming that the company is "going all out" with the device's thermal engineering. While there's no corroborating evidence, it's quite possible that the foldable design Apple is adopting could present unique cooling challenges because of its thinner internal structure and limited space for heat dissipation.

Apple introduced vapor chamber cooling to the iPhone lineup with last year's iPhone 17 Pro. The system uses a small amount of deionized water to move heat away from the A19 Pro chip and distribute it through the device's aluminum unibody frame.

Meanwhile, next year's 20th-anniversary iPhone will reportedly feature an edge-to-edge display with glass that curves around all four sides, with the aim of creating a nearly borderless appearance. If indeed we see such a device with a substantially redesigned enclosure, there's a good chance that it too will require a more advanced cooling system.

Apple is expected to offer two anniversary models in 2027 in sizes similar to the forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The latter devices are rumored to retain the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch dimensions of the current iPhone 17 Pro models, suggesting next year's commemorative lineup could use the same display sizes.

Earlier this week, Fixed Focus Digital claimed that Apple's "preferred approach" for the iPhone 20 is a return to glass, and that the relevant manufacturing facilities have already been renovated in advance of the project.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Ramps Up Vapor Chamber Orders for Foldable iPhone

 

[iPay]

- So, if every chip comes with better power efficiency, why would they need more cooling and vapor chambers?
- Er... Have you seen Harry Potter and the Vapor Chamber? it's super cool!

 

[t0rqx]

Will they add an extra drop of water to boost cooling capabilities or they gonna do another 17 series and save 0.00001 ct for profit?

About the cooling performance of the folding iPhone. They cheaped out on so much stuff there isn't much hardware inside that heats up and leaves space for a massive cooling unit.

 

[q_q]

- So, if every chip comes with better power efficiency, why would they need more cooling and vapor chambers?

Because power efficiency and total heat output are not the same thing.
A more efficient chip uses less energy to perform a given amount of work, but manufacturers usually exploit that efficiency to run the chip faster rather than merely reducing power consumption.

For example:

• Old chip: 100 units of performance at 10 W
• New chip: 150 units of performance at 10 W

The new chip is 50% more performance-efficient, but it still produces roughly the same 10 W of heat. If the manufacturer allows it to consume 12 W for short periods, it may deliver 180 units of performance. That now requires even better cooling despite being fundamentally more efficient.

 

[lapstags]

- So, if every chip comes with better power efficiency, why would they need more cooling and vapor chambers?
- Er... Have you seen Harry Potter and the Vapor Chamber? it's super cool!

You can add more cores and keep the same thermal output.

 

[vegetassj4]

So one could say they are making vaporware?

:ducks:

 

[epox999]

still not seeing these take off, 10 million units seems beyond optimistic

Folding phones are 2% of the Global market and 67% of those sold are clamshell style not "book" style.

Customer satisfaction sits at around 70%, and 64% of survey respondants say they aren't interested

64% of People Still Don't Want a Foldable Smartphone, CNET Survey Finds

Despite the growing hype around foldables from companies like Samsung and Motorola -- and rumors about a foldable iPhone -- most smartphone buyers have their hesitations.

www.cnet.com

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

still not seeing these take off, 10 million units seems beyond optimistic

Folding phones are 2% of the Global market and 67% of those sold are clamshell style not "book" style.

Customer satisfaction sits at around 70%, and 64% of survey respondants say they aren't interested

64% of People Still Don't Want a Foldable Smartphone, CNET Survey Finds

Despite the growing hype around foldables from companies like Samsung and Motorola -- and rumors about a foldable iPhone -- most smartphone buyers have their hesitations.

www.cnet.com

Same could have been said about the iPhone when it first launched. Apple doesn’t win by making it first. They win by making a category appealing to people who ignored it before.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy52]

Same could have been said about the iPhone when it first launched. Apple doesn’t win by making it first. They win by making a category appealing to people who ignored it before.

If this was Jobs's Apple, you might have a point. However, when was the last time that happened for them? iPod, iPhone, iPad... then what? The watch… that's tied exclusively to the phone (and thus only a subset of phone users)? Certainly not the Vision Pro.

This is going to be the first "new" product since the Vision Pro. We're just going to have to see how it goes. I should say, as someone who bought iPods, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches early on (and have since dropped the watch and the iPad)… neither the Vision Pro nor this foldable phone call to me. Maybe it's because I'm older and my perception of my needs has changed. Maybe it's because I see both products as signs of a company that's lost its rudder. Maybe it's a mix of both. We'll see.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

If this was Jobs's Apple, you might have a point. However, when was the last time that happened for them? iPod, iPhone, iPad... then what? The watch… that's tied exclusively to the phone (and thus only a subset of phone users)? Certainly not the Vision Pro.

This is going to be the first "new" product since the Vision Pro. We're just going to have to see how it goes. I should say, as someone who bought iPods, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches early on (and have since dropped the watch and the iPad)… neither the Vision Pro nor this foldable phone call to me. Maybe it's because I'm older and my perception of my needs has changed. Maybe it's because I see both products as signs of a company that's lost its rudder. Maybe it's a mix of both. We'll see.

I disagree with the premise. Steve Jobs was a once in a generation leader but Apple hasn’t been standing still since he passed. AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Silicon have all been massive successes. Whether the foldable succeeds is a separate question but I don’t think it’s accurate to dismiss Apple’s ability to execute simply because Jobs isn’t there anymore.

 

[epox999]

Same could have been said about the iPhone when it first launched. Apple doesn’t win by making it first. They win by making a category appealing to people who ignored it before.

Apple is no longer the biggest smartphone maker, and the entire segment is at a 13-year low with shipments down 11%

I'm all for new innovative products, but this folding phone just looks like an apple version of something that's a niche segment. Especially if this comes out at a $2000 price point, what's the market for this?

 

[citysnaps]

Because power efficiency and total heat output are not the same thing.
A more efficient chip uses less energy to perform a given amount of work, but manufacturers usually exploit that efficiency to run the chip faster rather than merely reducing power consumption.

For example:

• Old chip: 100 units of performance at 10 W
• New chip: 150 units of performance at 10 W

The new chip is 50% more performance-efficient, but it still produces roughly the same 10 W of heat. If the manufacturer allows it to consume 12 W for short periods, it may deliver 180 units of performance. That now requires even better cooling despite being fundamentally more efficient.

Thank you. It's refreshing seeing a well-reasoned post here rather than the typical and hackneyed Apple is evil.

 

[seek3r]

Apple is no longer the biggest smartphone maker, and the entire segment is at a 13-year low with shipments down 11%

Apple and samsung keep swapping the title but they’re both sitting around 21%-22% globally at any given time right now, and the slump has hurt other manufacturers more than the 2 big kahunas.

I'm all for new innovative products, but this folding phone just looks like an apple version of something that's a niche segment. Especially if this comes out at a $2000 price point, what's the market for this?

That’s literally Apple’s bread and butter. The iPhone was not the first touchscreen smartphone, the iPod was not the first PMP, the aWatch was not the first smartwatch, airpods were not the first wireless earbuds, etc

Apple is good at finding a part of the market that needs some extra refinement to give it wider appeal and then doing that. Their approach isnt to be first, it’s to be more appealing and better

Doesnt always work, of course, but it is what they’re good at

 

[lapstags]

still not seeing these take off, 10 million units seems beyond optimistic

Folding phones are 2% of the Global market and 67% of those sold are clamshell style not "book" style.

Customer satisfaction sits at around 70%, and 64% of survey respondants say they aren't interested

64% of People Still Don't Want a Foldable Smartphone, CNET Survey Finds

Despite the growing hype around foldables from companies like Samsung and Motorola -- and rumors about a foldable iPhone -- most smartphone buyers have their hesitations.

www.cnet.com

Epically at the price point. I would consider it if the performance blows me away. Already have a iPad Pro 13 but I would like a iPad mini sized device but performance needs to in between the m4 and m5 pro for me to consider it.

 

[turbineseaplane]

For whatever reason, when I hear Vapor Chamber, all I can think about is Nike.

 

[seek3r]

If this was Jobs's Apple, you might have a point. However, when was the last time that happened for them? iPod, iPhone, iPad... then what? The watch… that's tied exclusively to the phone (and thus only a subset of phone users)? Certainly not the Vision Pro.

This is going to be the first "new" product since the Vision Pro. We're just going to have to see how it goes. I should say, as someone who bought iPods, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches early on (and have since dropped the watch and the iPad)… neither the Vision Pro nor this foldable phone call to me. Maybe it's because I'm older and my perception of my needs has changed. Maybe it's because I see both products as signs of a company that's lost its rudder. Maybe it's a mix of both. We'll see.

Off the top of my head Apple Silicon macs, airpods, homepods, airtags, and yes aWatches (you personally may not be a fan but Apple is, depending on day, the first or 2nd largest phone maker, that subset of users is huge. There’s a reason aWatches are ubiquitous in the US, where Apple dominates the market). Arguably the macbook neo too, may still be a laptop but it’s a different category of the market than Apple’s usual focus

 

[IIGS User]

Whoever at apple thinks they're gonna sell 10 million of these folding phones the first year at over $2K a pop in this economy should be ordering crack pipes instead of vapor chambers.

 

[lapstags]

Whoever at apple thinks they're gonna sell 10 million of these folding phones the first year at over $2K a pop in this economy should be ordering crack pipes instead of vapor chambers.

Right

 

[Unami]

it's quite possible that the foldable design Apple is adopting could present unique cooling challenges because of its thinner internal structure and limited space for heat dissipation.

Wouldn't a foldable phone have more surface area for heat dissipation?

 

[seek3r]

Whoever at apple thinks they're gonna sell 10 million of these folding phones the first year at over $2K a pop in this economy should be ordering crack pipes instead of vapor chambers.

The thing with a K shaped economy is there are still a lot of folks with a lot of cash

Also a lot of folks pay in monthly installments, over 2 years the extra monthly cost of the difference between a pro max, which tends to sell well, and this likely ultra doesnt add enough to trigger a lot of folks cost red line

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Apple is no longer the biggest smartphone maker, and the entire segment is at a 13-year low with shipments down 11%

I'm all for new innovative products, but this folding phone just looks like an apple version of something that's a niche segment. Especially if this comes out at a $2000 price point, what's the market for this?

Top 5%ers who want new a new take on an iPhone and innovative tech…

 

[svish]

Good to know. Think all future iPhones will definitely be having a vapor cooling system and this will definitely result in larger component orders.

 

[M4irmidnight]

I

Apple has ramped up orders for vapor chamber cooling components said to be destined for its upcoming foldable iPhone and 20th-anniversary iPhone models, according to a Chinese leaker.

The Weibo account known as "Fixed Focus Digital" claims the increased order volume will first support the manufacture of Apple's book-style foldable, or "iPhone Ultra," which is expected to debut in September. Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to produce approximately 10 million foldable iPhones in 2026, up from an earlier forecast of seven to eight million units.

Fixed Focus Digital previously said Apple's first foldable iPhone would feature "impressive" vapor chamber cooling, claiming that the company is "going all out" with the device's thermal engineering. While there's no corroborating evidence, it's quite possible that the foldable design Apple is adopting could present unique cooling challenges because of its thinner internal structure and limited space for heat dissipation.

Apple introduced vapor chamber cooling to the iPhone lineup with last year's iPhone 17 Pro. The system uses a small amount of deionized water to move heat away from the A19 Pro chip and distribute it through the device's aluminum unibody frame.

Meanwhile, next year's 20th-anniversary iPhone will reportedly feature an edge-to-edge display with glass that curves around all four sides, with the aim of creating a nearly borderless appearance. If indeed we see such a device with a substantially redesigned enclosure, there's a good chance that it too will require a more advanced cooling system.

Apple is expected to offer two anniversary models in 2027 in sizes similar to the forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The latter devices are rumored to retain the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch dimensions of the current iPhone 17 Pro models, suggesting next year's commemorative lineup could use the same display sizes.

Earlier this week, Fixed Focus Digital claimed that Apple's "preferred approach" for the iPhone 20 is a return to glass, and that the relevant manufacturing facilities have already been renovated in advance of the project.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Ramps Up Vapor Chamber Orders for Foldable iPhone

Need this in MacBook Air .

 

[CEmajr]

Whoever at apple thinks they're gonna sell 10 million of these folding phones the first year at over $2K a pop in this economy should be ordering crack pipes instead of vapor chambers.

People have money for the things they actually want. I remember the iPhone 4 being backordered in 2010 with insane demand despite the economy being far worse than it is today. Plus the carriers will be likely offering financing that keeps the monthly cost reasonable to most. Heck, GTA just sold millions of units just off preorders. There's money if people actually want your product and I'd wager that a lot of people will want this iPhone.

 

[lapstags]

I

Need this in MacBook Air .

Rumor is the MacBook pros will get it