Apple has reportedly increased orders for vapor chamber cooling systems, fueling speculation that the company plans to bring the technology to future flagship iPhones, including its first foldable model.
The claim comes from Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, who said Apple has “significantly increased its total orders for vapor chambers,” potentially ahead of upcoming devices.
The increased supply is expected to support Apple’s first book-style foldable iPhone, often referred to as the “iPhone Ultra,” which is rumored to arrive in 2026. According to Weibo, Apple has reportedly raised production targets for the device to about 10 million units, up from previous estimates of 7 million to 8 million.
Vapor chamber cooling could help address one of the biggest hardware engineering challenges facing foldable phones: dissipating heat inside increasingly thin devices.
The technology uses a sealed chamber containing a small amount of liquid that moves heat away from high-temperature areas and spreads it across a larger surface. Apple introduced the system with the iPhone 17 Pro, where it was designed to improve sustained performance under heavy workloads.
The rumored foldable iPhone is expected to have a slim design, measuring around 4.5mm thick when unfolded. With less internal space available for traditional cooling solutions, a vapor chamber could help sustain peak performance without excessive heat buildup. Fixed Focus Digital previously claimed the foldable model would feature “impressive” vapor chamber cooling, though the leaker remains the only source making that specific claim.
Production challenges appear to be easing
Apple’s foldable iPhone has reportedly faced manufacturing hurdles during development. Earlier reports pointed to issues involving hinge durability and production yields.
However, Fixed Focus Digital disputed earlier hinge-related claims, saying the bigger issue involved surface-mount technology (SMT) production yields during the pre-assembly stage. Despite those challenges, reports suggest Apple’s September 2026 launch timeline remains unchanged.
Apple is also rumored to be developing. Apple is also rumored to be preparing a 20th-anniversary iPhone model for 2027. That device is expected to feature a major redesign, including a nearly borderless display with curved glass edges, according to MacRumors. A more advanced cooling system could become useful if Apple pushes the device toward a thinner and more ambitious design.
What this means for iPhone buyers
The move suggests Apple is focusing not only on new designs but also on maintaining performance as its devices become thinner and more complex. Foldable phones often face compromises between size, durability, battery life, and heat management, making thermal design an important factor in whether they can replace traditional smartphones.
A stronger cooling system could allow future iPhones to handle demanding tasks, including gaming, video processing, and AI workloads, more consistently. The technology could increase manufacturing complexity, although it remains unclear how much that would affect pricing.
The rumored foldable iPhone is expected to start around $2,000, making it a premium device aimed at early adopters rather than the broader iPhone market.
If the reports prove accurate, Apple’s growing investment in vapor chamber cooling suggests the company views thermal management as an increasingly important part of future iPhone design, particularly as devices become thinner while taking on more demanding AI and graphics workloads.
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