Leaked iPhone 17 Pro Max diagram reveals a massive vapor chamber inside — here’s what we know

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Overheating shouldn't be a worry

iPhone 16 Pro Max
(Image credit: Future)

Gaming has always been a strength for the iPhone, but it looks like it’s only going to get better with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That’s because a leak gives us an idea of what the new vapor chamber will look like with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is shaping out to be a big one.

The leak comes to us courtesy of iOS developer @LusiRoy8 on X via PhoneArena, who shared not an actual photo of the vapor chamber itself, but rather, a diagram that lays it out. What’s notable here is the size of the vapor chamber itself; seeing a larger one would help dissipate heat buildup away from the phone’s chipset, RAM, and other components.

By keeping them cool, the iPhone 17 Pro Max would be able to sustain optimal performance for all things — whether it’s a graphically intensive gaming title, or doing other processor-heavy tasks like editing video footage.

Having a vapor chamber would be a step up for the iPhone 17 Pro Max to make a more serious best phone contender, as previous leaks have shown us an image of several of these vapor chambers printed on a single sheet of copper. Many of the best Android phones already employ a vapor chamber of some kind, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has shown GPU scores that outclass the current iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The diagram allegedly of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s vapor chamber could also minimize how hot the phone could feel to the touch. Typically speaking, this chamber is filled with a liquid material that would turn into vapor as the temperature inside of it gets hot — resulting in that vapor build up to dissipate across the chamber’s surface.

With a week away until Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event, this rumor might actually turn out to be true. This would bode well for the A19 Pro chip that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is tipped to get. Even though this leak specifically calls out the iPhone 17 Pro Max, we suspect that the iPhone 17 Pro would also get it to some degree — although it’s unknown for the base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air.

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John Velasco
John Velasco
Senior Channel Editor for Phones

John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.

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