Liquid-cooled smartphones, how they work

All technological products running at full power get hotter, but while computers have found the idea solution through fans and extensive use of heat-dispersing materials, the matter is a little more complicated with smartphones. Apps, above all those concerning video and gaming, need ever-increasing levels of power and thus the temperature rises, but the casing needs to stay small, pocket-sized and portable. It is impossible to keep components apart from each other, and so we have liquid cooling    

This technology already exists in desktop computers. A little like with cars, the liquid circulates among the components, collecting a part of the heat and drawing it out of the machine. In terms of smartphones however, it is a recent form of technology. The first to adopt it was the Galaxy S7 in 2016. A small tube with an infinitesimal amount of liquid is located on top of the CPU. It is so small that if the tube is cut, it is impossible to see any drops.

This liquid creates a miniature water circuit. Using condensation, when the processor heats up, the liquid draws away the heat and evaporates, keeping it cool. The water vapour then shifts to the other end of the tube when, on cooling, it once again condenses and liquefies, and the cycle continues.

The idea has been taken to extremes with the Black Shark 2, a smartphone presented by Xiaomi just a few days ago. This device has been designed for gaming. It has a Snapdragon 855 processor, an Adreno 640 graphics card and between 6 and 12 GB of RAM which have to work without complaining. Gaming calls for power and this pocket console cannot skimp. This is why it is fitted with Liquid Cool 3.0 technology. The concept is similar to that of the Galaxy but it covers a much wider area, and has multiple layers. As well as the liquid itself, the components in the cooling system also conduct the heat outwards.

According to the manufacturer, the result is that the CPU temperature is kept eight degrees lower than competing systems, allowing all of the hardware to be used for longer as the heat is kept at bay, and the phone can also be used while it is charging, a fundamental aspect for gamers. Fast charging in fact generates a large amount of heat but it seems as though Liquid Cool 3.0 can take this problem on without difficulty.