{
  "id": 9587714,
  "title": "iPhone 18 Pro benchmark boosted by giving it a cold drink",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/iphone-18-pro-benchmark-boosted-by-giving-it-a-cold-drink",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-24T16:34:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/offbeat/2026/09/24/iphone-18-pro-benchmark-boosted-by-giving-it-a-cold-drink/5298918"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent experiment by software developer Matt Birchler revealed that placing a cold drink on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro can significantly boost its performance. Birchler conducted a series of benchmark tests on the iPhone 18 Pro, the 17 Pro, and the M4 Pro MacBook Pro using an app called Quick Subtitles. The 18 Pro series features a vapor chamber with three times the surface area of its predecessor, improving thermal management. Birchler found that the 18 Pro performed 50% better than the 17 Pro, but both devices heated up. The 18 Pro took longer to warm up but warmed up faster once it did. Birchler then placed a cold La Croix can on the back of the 18 Pro during a benchmark test, and the device maintained a \"fair\" thermal state throughout the 20 runs, achieving a 14% faster performance compared to when the can was not present.",
  "summary": "3x the vapor-chamber surface area can only do so much; luckily the fridge helped with sustained performance",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "iPhone 18 Pro benchmark boosted by giving it a cold drink",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/iphone-18-pro-benchmark-boosted-by-giving-it-a-cold-drink-9590620",
        "published": "2026-09-24T16:34:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}