Xiaomi has developed a mini heat pipe so your smartphone doesn't get too hot to handle

Mobe and mattress maker Xiaomi has unveiled its latest tech for keeping phones cool: a small heat pipe mechanism called Loop LiquidCool. With smartphones these days acting as pocket PCs and users throwing almost everything at them, even gaming, manufacturers are challenged with creating innovative measures to keep the devices …

[Mike 137]

Heat piped to where?

Heat pipes have been around since yonks. I remember a 1968 article in Scientific American describing how they work. But they're only heat pumps, not heat absorbers or radiators. I'm wondering where the hot end will be and how the accumulated heat will be dissipated without creating an uncomfortable hot spot (or hot area) at the surface of the phone (i.e.making it too hot to handle).

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Heat piped to where?

Obviously it's heat pipes all the way down

[John Robson]

Re: Heat piped to where?

If you can take the single hot spot and spread it to the entire back of the phone then the temperature will be much reduced (double the are and you need 1/2 the temperature difference to dissipate the same energy - don't know what effect convection may have though.

[MiguelC]

"(...)users throwing almost everything at them, even gaming"

well, my '98 Nokia 5110 didn't need a heat pipe to play snake

[tip pc]

Re: "(...)users throwing almost everything at them, even gaming"

Could it play snake in a crisis though?

[the Jim bloke]

Re: "(...)users throwing almost everything at them, even gaming"

It can play snake on a plane.. (flight mode recommended)

[Dr_N]

Re: "(...)users throwing almost everything at them, even gaming"

Yes, I've had it with these battery-suckin' games on a plane.

[Slx]

Wasn't this a feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 several years ago?

[Kernel]

"Wasn't this a feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 several years ago?"

I also have a feeling that it might have been in the Nokia 8 and 8.1 of 4 or so years ago as well, so probably nothing to see here.

[DarkwavePunk]

Tesla valves

Tesla valves are so very clever. There are many good videos on YT about them. I'm not entirely in the market for a phone that needs it to stop my genitals from catching fire, but the history and technology is groovy.

[adam 40]

Re: Tesla valves

If you keep it that close to your genitals they are probably useless anyway from the 5G radiation!

[Our Lord and Savior Rahl]

Re: Tesla valves

It's OK, I'm double jabbed

[Version 1.0]

This is just climbing away from climate change

It would be better to dig deeper into the phones and make them work more efficiently and generate less heat.

[TheProf]

Re: This is just climbing away from climate change

Suggestions on a postcard to the usual address.

[W.S.Gosset]

"Heat Pipette®"

(Just thought I'd help them out with some snappy marketing.)