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How the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge cooling system works

AndroidPIT galaxy s7 vs galaxy s7 edge 8
© nextpit

Samsung presented a new cooling system for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge at this year’s MWC conference. The system ensures that these phones run fast without overheating. We’ve taken the heat for you and investigated how these cooling systems work in more detail.

Chill out, bro

The cooling systems the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have are similar to those used in PCs. Many PC manufacturers use water as a coolant to avoid extreme heat. This cooling concept is also used in car engines as well as high-end smartphones. Although similar in concept, there are some major differences in how smartphone cooling systems work when compared to PCs.

test comparatif samsung galaxy s6 edge vs galaxy s7 edge watercooling image 00
The new cooling system on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. / © ANDROIDPIT/Samsung

How cooling systems operate

Do you even need a smartphone cooling system? The answer is simple: yes. Making calls and running intensive apps and games make the processor and RAM work harder, leading to increased heat generation. It’s like accelerating rapidly in a car – doing this requires more fuel and air to be pushed into the motor, meaning more heat and therefore more cooling to prevent engine damage.

Depending on the installed smartphone components, heat generation is not dramatic. Newer smartphones are more powerful and their processors generate more heat. Too much heat can adversely affect performance – such as what we saw with the Sony Xperia Z3+ heat scandal.

Smartphone manufacturers know about this issue. They have developed different systems to counteract heat. These include cooling systems, or even processor throttling. This is no different for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The special feature, however, is that water is used as a coolant.

explications watercooling refroidissement liquide galaxy s7 edge ifixit watercooling image 00
Cooling fluid passes through this tube. © iFixit

Say no to aquaphobia

Water in a smartphone – sounds crazy, right? But it is safer and more simple than it sounds. Samsung’s engineers haven’t just exposed the S7 and S7 Edge to ‘wet danger’. Rather, water helps to cool the new S7 smartphones.

The water is not housed in a small pool, but instead flows through ‘heat pipes’. These are small tubes that ensure both the processor and memory of the S7s are cooled. There is, of course, always the small possibility that your phone could be damaged and the cooling system with it. This could pose a water damage risk to your phone’s internals. Although the new S7 smartphones are indeed water resistant, this only applies to water that comes from outside of the devices.

But owners of the S7 and S7 Edge don’t really need to worry about the new cooling system, as the YouTube video below shows. In the clip, JerryRigEverything disassembles the S7 Edge and pierces the cooling pipe, yet we only see fins inside, no water.

But how good is the new system, and are more engineers building cooling systems with water? From what we’ve seen so far with the S7 and S7 Edge, performance is great and there appear to be no heating issues. Pretty cool, we say.

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Tony Balt

Tony Balt
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Tony discovered Android in 2009. Since then, he's sharing his passion everyday with you, checking every news about Android, apps and reporting the most exciting ones.

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  • Om Panchal 4
    Om Panchal Apr 17, 2016 Link to comment

    Extremely good post. But why don't Sony use this cooling system...? It would rather be good.


  • tariq 6
    tariq Apr 15, 2016 Link to comment

    Phones still heats up a lot! Especially with VR gear.. Can't even watch a full movie


  • Mark G. 28
    Mark G. Apr 15, 2016 Link to comment

    That's pretty cool,

    What are the other ways that manufacturers use to cool down devices?
    Peace ✌

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