iPhone 17 Pro Thermals Are Everything: iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone Air

[jsmith1]

Just sent my brick heavy 16 Pro to Apple for the $580 trade in.

First time happy to send back a phone that has caused my pants to drag....

I have to say it’s quite a pleasure trading in something to Apple. They really do it right I’ve done two trade-ins my 12 Pro Max and my 16 Pro Max and I’ve had no problem and been satisfied with what they gave me for it…..

and yeah my pants trying to fall down most of the time with that 16 pro max in my back pocket those days are long over now. I can’t imagine having a 17 pro max. It’s even thicker and heavier yikes.!

 

[JPack]

the heat is concentrated in the island where there is no battery though...

The entire chassis is used to spread heat. That’s why you see a big black graphite pad when you open it up.

There’s no escaping the fact it’ll be hotter because there is less room and mass to dissipate heat.

 

[Contact_Feanor]

The entire chassis is used to spread heat. That’s why you see a big black graphite pad when you open it up.

View attachment 2559855

So you imagine that heat is spread evenly over the entire phone? Graphite pad or not, the heat is concentrated where it is generated. Basic physics.

 

[metsjetsfan]

Had both 17 PM and 16 and from my experience the 17 actually gets hotter. Im guessing its bc the vapor chamber spreads it?

 

[metsjetsfan]

The 15 pro and 16 pro family notoriously overheated, but didn't "slow down in 2 months time". Why do you think the Air will suddenly do so? Also, vapor chambers aren't magical: once the chamber has absorbed enough heat, it's not really making much of a difference anymore, just look at most of the reviews that take a deep dive into sustained performance. At first they make a big difference, then... not so much.

had those as well and the 17 and I think the 17 gets hotter. especially when charging

 

[bill-p]

The entire chassis is used to spread heat. That’s why you see a big black graphite pad when you open it up.

There’s no escaping the fact it’ll be hotter because there is less room and mass to dissipate heat.

View attachment 2559855

Actually, in reality, we have seen thermal imaging of all 3. Air indeed doesn't spread as much heat to the middle and bottom parts of the phone compared to both base and Pro.



In real use, even when I try to play a 3D game for over an hour, the plateau is just a big warm to the touch. The bottom body is very cold. If anything, based on just this, I would even guess that Pro and base may end up with more battery degradation over time than Air, since Air's battery is mostly cool most of the time.

Another observation from real use: MagSafe seems to heat up the battery far more than USB-C charging, so I'd limit MagSafe use to maybe very occasionally. Either that or the phone needs to have good ventilation when using MagSafe.

 

[NotApplicable]

Actually, in reality, we have seen thermal imaging of all 3. Air indeed doesn't spread as much heat to the middle and bottom parts of the phone compared to both base and Pro.

View attachment 2559874

In real use, even when I try to play a 3D game for over an hour, the plateau is just a big warm to the touch. The bottom body is very cold. If anything, based on just this, I would even guess that Pro and base may end up with more battery degradation over time than Air, since Air's battery is mostly cool most of the time.

Another observation from real use: MagSafe seems to heat up the battery far more than USB-C charging, so I'd limit MagSafe use to maybe very occasionally. Either that or the phone needs to have good ventilation when using MagSafe.

This is actually good for battery health!

 

[Herr Podspro]

All the iPhone Air buyers will be regretting their decision.

Because it has essentially the same thermal design than literally every iPhone before it?
lol
Just because the Pro is better doesn’t mean the Air is automatically bad.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

People aren’t talking enough about the vapor chamber. Give it two months and the iPhone Air’s components will start slowing down. The iPhone 17 Pro’s vapor chamber is the real game-changer—it keeps the phone running fast, all the time and indefinitely.

All the iPhone Air buyers will be regretting their decision.

Even if these people do regret their decision, it won't affect you in any way.

 

[aggravated_raspberry]

This vapor chamber chat is a bit echo chamber (sorrrrryyyyy) - no random consumer cares about the vapor chamber, nor will they appreciate the difference.

 

[JPack]

Actually, in reality, we have seen thermal imaging of all 3. Air indeed doesn't spread as much heat to the middle and bottom parts of the phone compared to both base and Pro.

View attachment 2559874

In real use, even when I try to play a 3D game for over an hour, the plateau is just a big warm to the touch. The bottom body is very cold. If anything, based on just this, I would even guess that Pro and base may end up with more battery degradation over time than Air, since Air's battery is mostly cool most of the time.

Another observation from real use: MagSafe seems to heat up the battery far more than USB-C charging, so I'd limit MagSafe use to maybe very occasionally. Either that or the phone needs to have good ventilation when using MagSafe.

We must have a different understanding of the same image.

Here's what it looks like overlaid with the components.

The top right corner of the Air's battery is clearly in the extremely hot zone.

 

[surfsofa]

Nah. Definitely not.

You know why? Because there are tons of people buying iPhone Air because they don’t use their iPhone much but enjoy the moment when they DO use iPhone. Plus, if they don’t use iPhone much to begin with, how on earth they are going to stress the components to the point of thermal throttling? By wireless charging maybe, but that’s about it.

Not everyone benefits from Vapor chamber and their associated increased thermal performance. There are so many people out there begging Apple to reintroduce iPhone mini (not enough for Apple to care tho), there will be lots of iPhone Air sold for people favouring form over function. Those people enjoy holding their devices when using it, but not care enough to use their iPhone 12 hours a day.

Very well said, and I’m one of those people. I don’t use social media apps on my phone, so no doom scrolling here. Don’t want to be a phone zombie. My phone is a tool, and my watch gives me even fewer reasons to touch the phone without a purpose. When I DO use it, I want the best. I’d love a better camera setup, otherwise the Air is perfect for me.

 

[bill-p]

We must have a different understanding of the same image.

Here's what it looks like overlaid with the components.

The top right corner of the Air's battery is clearly in the extremely hot zone.

View attachment 2559990

I think the overlay proves the point even more: the rest of the battery pack of Air is not that hot. It stays in the cool region, even. I’d think Apple already knew about the hot spot so of course they insulated that part of the battery well. Otherwise the whole battery should be warmer.

In reality, my Air never gets warm except for when MagSafe is connected. The bottom part stays cool to the touch even under extreme load. This is in stark contrast to my wife’s 17 Pro Max which heats up a lot when she plays some of her games. The whole phone heats up and battery drops very rapidly. She has been contemplating switching over to Air as well because it’s literally cooler to hold playing that same game.

 

[ipsedixit]

I love the internet.

Until it overheats.

 

[JPack]

I think the overlay proves the point even more: the rest of the battery pack of Air is not that hot. It stays in the cool region, even. I’d think Apple already knew about the hot spot so of course they insulated that part of the battery well. Otherwise the whole battery should be warmer.

In reality, my Air never gets warm except for when MagSafe is connected. The bottom part stays cool to the touch even under extreme load. This is in stark contrast to my wife’s 17 Pro Max which heats up a lot when she plays some of her games. The whole phone heats up and battery drops very rapidly. She has been contemplating switching over to Air as well because it’s literally cooler to hold playing that same game.

Extreme thermal gradients are bad for cells. This is what the FLIR image shows.

You seem to believe having cool parts helps. It really doesn't.

The hot parts of the cell have lower internal resistance, which means it gets charged and discharged faster. This results in localized areas of cell aging.

In good battery design, engineers try to keep the thermal gradient less than 2°C.

Cell Temperature Gradient - Battery Design

A cell temperature gradient can limit performance and lifetime of the cell. Therefore, it is important to design the battery to minimise this

www.batterydesign.net

 

[bill-p]

Extreme thermal gradients are bad for cells. This is what the FLIR image shows.

You seem to believe having cool parts helps. It really doesn't.

The hot parts of the cell have lower internal resistance, which means it gets charged and discharged faster. This results in localized areas of cell aging.

In good battery design, engineers try to keep the thermal gradient less than 2°C.

Cell Temperature Gradient - Battery Design

A cell temperature gradient can limit performance and lifetime of the cell. Therefore, it is important to design the battery to minimise this

www.batterydesign.net

You seem very intent on trying to explain this your way to somehow paint Air in a bad light.

Again, Apple engineers probably figured this out and insulated the battery properly. This is felt in real use.

Also even if what you are saying is true, Air users still aren't the type that will intentionally stress their phones on a regular basis so it's still not a big issue. If anything, isn't what you posted also applicable to base 17?

 

[thegrants82]

People aren’t talking enough about the vapor chamber. Give it two months and the iPhone Air’s components will start slowing down. The iPhone 17 Pro’s vapor chamber is the real game-changer—it keeps the phone running fast, all the time and indefinitely.

All the iPhone Air buyers will be regretting their decision.

lol

 

[JPack]

You seem very intent on trying to explain this your way to somehow paint Air in a bad light.

Again, Apple engineers probably figured this out and insulated the battery properly. This is felt in real use.

Also even if what you are saying is true, Air users still aren't the type that will intentionally stress their phones on a regular basis so it's still not a big issue. If anything, isn't what you posted also applicable to base 17?

I’m explaining engineering principles. You’re providing anecdotes. You make it sound like I’m inventing these engineering concepts.

Just because it doesn’t fit your narrative doesn’t mean I’m trying to make the Air look bad.

If you say there is insulation, then show me a teardown photo of insulation.

 

[Macalway]

This thread is all kinds of not. In a few months? Throttling? Well I guess that’s a good thing. Like eating maybe: stuff yourself now, and feel full in a couple months. Yup

 

[bill-p]

I’m explaining engineering principles. You’re providing anecdotes. You make it sound like I’m inventing these engineering concepts.

Just because it doesn’t fit your narrative doesn’t mean I’m trying to make the Air look bad.

If you say there is insulation, then show me a teardown photo of insulation.

If what you are implying is true, please provide actual proof this has happened to any iPhone. Why is it now my burden to prove what you are claiming?

I am not the one claiming any of those engineering principles apply. You are.

 

[ReliableSource]

Actually, in reality, we have seen thermal imaging of all 3. Air indeed doesn't spread as much heat to the middle and bottom parts of the phone compared to both base and Pro.

View attachment 2559874

In real use, even when I try to play a 3D game for over an hour, the plateau is just a big warm to the touch. The bottom body is very cold. If anything, based on just this, I would even guess that Pro and base may end up with more battery degradation over time than Air, since Air's battery is mostly cool most of the time.

Another observation from real use: MagSafe seems to heat up the battery far more than USB-C charging, so I'd limit MagSafe use to maybe very occasionally. Either that or the phone needs to have good ventilation when using MagSafe.

I know we’re talking anecdotes here, but I usually upgrade every year, and my 15 Pro Max was at 98% capacity when I upgraded to a 16 Pro Max, and my 16 was at 100% capacity when I traded it in for a 17 Pro Max. For both, I used MagSafe to charge 99.9% of the time. I don’t think the heat from Qi charging is as much of a factor as people think.

I also mostly kept the charging limit for both phones at 80%, and generally never let them get lower than 40%. That seems to make a bigger difference in my experience.

 

[JPack]

If what you are implying is true, please provide actual proof this has happened to any iPhone. Why is it now my burden to prove what you are claiming?

I am not the one claiming any of those engineering principles apply. You are.

Prove what? That a 7 day old iPhone Air has already experienced battery degradation? I never claimed that.

The FLIR image you posted clearly shows an extreme thermal gradient.

 

[SmOgER]

Actually, in reality, we have seen thermal imaging of all 3. Air indeed doesn't spread as much heat to the middle and bottom parts of the phone compared to both base and Pro.

View attachment 2559874

In real use, even when I try to play a 3D game for over an hour, the plateau is just a big warm to the touch. The bottom body is very cold. If anything, based on just this, I would even guess that Pro and base may end up with more battery degradation over time than Air, since Air's battery is mostly cool most of the time.

Another observation from real use: MagSafe seems to heat up the battery far more than USB-C charging, so I'd limit MagSafe use to maybe very occasionally. Either that or the phone needs to have good ventilation when using MagSafe.

If you look at your heatmap, the hotspot in Air is just about where the top of the battery is next to the battery connector. That is likely gonna affect it more than the other phones.

 

[bill-p]

Prove what? That a 7 day old iPhone Air has already experienced battery degradation? I never claimed that.

The FLIR image you posted clearly shows an extreme thermal gradient.

You are claiming thermal gradient exists in Air battery and it will degrade battery, right? So please, prove that.

If not, please state what you are claiming plainly so we can understand.

 

[bill-p]

If you look at your heatmap, the hotspot in Air is just about where the top of the battery is next to the battery connector. That is likely gonna affect it more than the other phones. View attachment 2560154

And do you have actual measurable data to support this claim?

That's actually what I'm alluding to. Theories are one thing but it seems people are banking on theories without proof.