We remember that certain iPhone 15 models suffered from unwanted overheating, a problem resolved by a firmware update. Apple intends to protect itself from this type of problem with the iPhone 16 by addressing the problem directly at the hardware level.
Graphene, 10x the thermal conductivity of copper
According to leaker Kosutami - recognized for some correct predictions such as USB-C on iPhone 15 - Apple would use graphene for the design of the heat sinks of the iPhone 16, allowing better heat management. A “miracle†material that we were already talking about in 2014 (click to read this detailed summary), graphene notably has a thermal conductivity ten times higher than that of copper.
As a reminder, the space inside an iPhone is a rare commodity, which excludes the integration of fans. Heat is therefore transferred from the device frame to the exterior via passive temperature dissipation.
