Technology · Consumer gadgets · published 2026-09-26 · via Tom's Hardware

Cold La Croix can boosts iPhone 18 Pro sustained benchmark results

A developer tested an iPhone 18 Pro with a cold can of La Croix placed on its back to counter thermal throttling. The improvised cooling reportedly raised sustained benchmark performance by about 25% compared with normal runs. The experiment highlights how phones reduce performance during prolonged heavy workloads to avoid overheating.

Expanded Detail

Developer Matt Birchler benchmarked the iPhone 18 Pro's A20 Pro chip using a transcription workload. In ordinary conditions, it peaked near 448 words per second, then fell to roughly 320 during later runs as thermal limits engaged.

For a 20-run trial, he set a chilled La Croix can on the phone's rear. The first result was about 430 words per second, but the average reached 400.4—around 25% better sustained output. The tradeoff: the handset had to remain face down. Dedicated phone coolers exist for gamers and filmmakers.

Context

This experiment may mainly interest mobile gamers, content creators, and benchmark enthusiasts who push phones hard. It could reinforce awareness that slim devices trade peak speed for thermal stability, and may encourage accessory makers to market external coolers. Ordinary users likely see little change, since attaching a cold can is impractical. The story may also spark playful online testing, but sustained-performance gains depend on workload and ambient conditions.

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.

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