Here's a look at the Pixel 9 Pro's new vapor chamber

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro series are the first Pixels to come with dedicated vapor chambers to improve the devices’ thermals. This advanced thermal management solution aims to keep the device running smoothly, even under heavy workloads.

During the recent Made by Google 2024 event, the tech giant offered a glimpse of the vapor chamber in its presentation, but didn’t talk much about it. But now, we have a more detailed look at this innovative cooling technology.

The vapor chamber is a thin, copper-colored component that sits beneath the phone’s main chip, the Tensor G4. It’s designed to efficiently dissipate heat away from the processor, preventing thermal throttling and maintaining peak performance.

In a teardown video by popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, we get an up-close view of the vapor chamber’s positioning. The Tensor G4 chip faces the mid-plate of the phone, resting on a square of thermal foam. Directly underneath this setup lies the vapor chamber, which is surprisingly slim given its crucial role in heat management.

iFixit, known for their in-depth device teardowns, also provided insights into the Pixel 9 Pro’s internal structure. Their examination revealed a rectangular-shaped cutout where the vapor chamber is situated, highlighting its integration into the phone’s overall design.

It’s worth noting that the vapor chamber cooling system is exclusive to the higher-end models in the Pixel 9 lineup. The Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold all feature this advanced thermal solution. In contrast, the standard Pixel 9 utilizes multiple layers of graphite film for heat dissipation, a more traditional approach to smartphone cooling.

It’s good to see Google finally taking thermals seriously. While the Tensor chipsets aren’t the most powerful SoCs out there, the sustained performance thanks to the new vapor chambers will definitely be welcomed by users. Most older Pixel phones tend to throttle the performance within minutes.

By effectively managing heat, the Pixel 9 Pro series can maintain optimal processing speeds for longer periods, potentially improving everything from gaming experiences to AI-powered tasks. We’ll have to wait and see if this fixes the long-standing overheating issues that have been affecting Pixel devices.