This Phone Features What the Galaxy S26 Ultra Truly Needs 

Published: Oct 21, 2025, 7:10 AM 

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is gradually taking shape, fueled by various rumors and leaks. It's set to be the next incremental upgrade in the series, launching with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. This processor promises exceptional performance, and early Geekbench results suggest it will deliver on that promise. However, as these powerful chips evolve, one aspect is becoming increasingly crucial—cooling.

We’ve seen it repeatedly: the first run of a synthetic benchmark yields impressive results, but as you conduct successive tests or run stress tests, performance can quickly decline. This drop typically happens when the chip overheats, leading to thermal throttling.

What Is Thermal Throttling? 

Thermal throttling isn't a flaw or defect; it's a built-in safety feature from manufacturers. Silicon chips operate within a specific temperature range, and when the temperature exceeds the upper limit, this mechanism activates. It reduces performance to prevent potential damage to the silicon. This is why there's often a stark contrast between peak and sustained performance.

In smartphones, thermal throttling can be particularly pronounced due to the compact design, where even a slight temperature increase can have significant effects. There’s limited space for heat dissipation, making effective cooling essential in modern devices.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra's Thermal Throttling Issues 

Even top-tier flagship phones are not immune to thermal throttling, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a prime example. One might assume that the larger chassis would aid cooling, but that’s not the case. Performance drops dramatically after the initial run in 3DMark's WildLife Extreme stress test, and subsequent Geekbench tests yield significantly lower scores, with stability dropping to a mere 46%. Additionally, the phone heats up noticeably, as shown in the thermal images. 

Is There a Solution? Absolutely! 

A potential solution comes from the Chinese gaming phone brand RedMagic. Their RedMagic 11 Pro features a unique and sophisticated active liquid-and-air cooling system. RedMagic claims it’s the world’s first of its kind, and I believe it—such a system has never been seen in a smartphone before.

While not water, the liquid used is a server-grade fluorinated fluid—effectively water infused with fluorine atoms to make it non-conductive and thermally stable. It’s also chemically inert, meaning it doesn’t react with metals, plastics, rubber, or glass, making it ideal for cooling electronics. RedMagic has successfully created a miniature liquid cooling system within the 11 Pro.

This system includes a tiny 0.85 mm ceramic micro-pump to circulate the liquid and a waterproof fan that spins at 24,000 rpm. These components work alongside a vapor chamber made with liquid metal, enhancing overall cooling efficiency by 50%, according to RedMagic.

A Game-Changer for Flagship Phones 

While Apple and Samsung are just beginning to explore vapor chamber technology (the pro models in the iPhone 17 series are the first to feature it), this presents an excellent opportunity for meaningful innovation. Given the approaching launch date of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it’s unlikely to incorporate this radical water cooling feature.

Nonetheless, cooling remains an underrated aspect of modern smartphones, and every flagship could benefit from this unique system introduced by RedMagic. As companies continue to promote impressive specs with each new chip, they often neglect to discuss sustained performance.

In everyday use, we don’t rely on our smartphones for short bursts of peak performance; most tasks require sustained performance to fully utilize the benefits of new silicon. Imagine if the Galaxy S26 Ultra or even the iPhone 18 Pro Max featured water cooling. It may sound radical, but what are your thoughts?

Oh, and one last thing—we're currently working on our review of the RedMagic 11 Pro, so stay tuned for an in-depth look at this liquid cooling system and a final verdict on whether it’s a gimmick or a game changer.