Next Android flagships could get built-in cooling fans, leaker claims

[Sentinel68]

More Android phone makers may build tiny cooling fans into their flagship phones, according to the Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station. Android Authority's Aamir Siddiqui reports that the aim is to stop thermal throttling on Qualcomm's newest chips. It is a rumour for now, but it reflects a real challenge with modern phone processors

The leaker makes a bold claim. A phone with last year's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a fan would apparently beat a phone with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 without one in gaming. In other words, a fan could add more sustained performance than a whole generation of chip improvements. The leaker also says a fan would greatly improve the Gen 6's results over current vapour chamber cooling

An unnamed brand is said to be considering a fan for its Pro Max or Ultra model. Until now, fans have mostly appeared in gaming phones such as the REDMAGIC series. Bringing them to mainstream flagships would be a significant shift

Siddiqui explains why this is happening. Flagship chips are now so powerful that vapour chambers are close to essential, and long gaming sessions still cause throttling. Adding a fan brings engineering problems around dust resistance, waterproofing and limited internal space. He argues that big brands could justify the work if they reuse the same chip and cooling design across several phones over a couple of years

It is an interesting idea for mobile gamers who want consistent performance. For everyone else, a fan might feel like unnecessary complexity. If it can be done without losing water resistance, though, it could be a welcome step forward for sustained performance

Would you buy a flagship phone with a built in fan? And how much does sustained gaming performance matter to you?

Android Flagships Built In Cooling Fan Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 3722028www.androidauthority.com

[Firewall Stephen]

It is a bit absurd that chips have become so powerful that phones need fans. Perhaps chip makers should focus more on efficiency than peak speed. Better efficiency helps battery life too

Everybody wins with cooler chips. Apple has focused on efficiency for years, and it shows. Android chip makers could follow that path