Does a Case Make Your Phone Slower?

Summary

In this video, the impact of phone cases on thermal throttling is explored. The experiment compares the performance of the iPhone XS Max and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus under intensive tasks without cases. After establishing a baseline, various cases are tested to see if they affect the rate and extent of thermal throttling. The results show that most cases, including basic plastic and rugged ones, have little impact on performance. Interestingly, the iPhone's performance is significantly affected when the screen is covered, suggesting it relies on the screen for cooling. The video concludes that while thermal throttling is inevitable, using a case doesn't significantly hinder device performance.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Smartphones are prone to thermal throttling when subjected to intensive tasks for extended periods, such as video editing or graphically demanding games.
• 📱 Phone cases are typically designed for ruggedness, aesthetics, or cost-effectiveness, with little consideration for thermal conduction.
• 📊 To measure the effect of cases on thermal throttling, a baseline of device performance without a case is established using benchmarking tools like Geekbench and 3D Mark.
• 📱 Tested devices include the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus (Android) and iPhone XS Max (iOS), representing the two major smartphone operating systems.
• ♨️ Initial tests showed no significant thermal throttling with basic plastic cases, suggesting minimal impact on performance from such cases.
• 💰 More expensive, rugged, and leather cases also did not notably affect thermal throttling, with some showing slightly better performance than the baseline.
• 📱 The iPhone XS Max appeared to rely significantly on its screen for cooling, as covering the screen with a wallet case led to immediate and more severe throttling.
• 🔋 Preheating the devices by running a battery test before benchmarking did not induce thermal throttling, suggesting that standard benchmark tests may not accurately reflect real-world use.
• 🛠️ Some Android manufacturers may tune their devices to detect benchmarking software, potentially allowing more heating before throttling, which could skew test results.
• 🌐 The video concludes that unless a non-breathable, insulating material is used, phone cases are unlikely to significantly impact device performance due to thermal throttling.

Q & A

What is thermal throttling in smartphones?

Thermal throttling is a mechanism in smartphones where the device's performance is reduced to prevent overheating when running intensive tasks for extended periods.

Why do smartphone manufacturers design cases for ruggedness or looks rather than thermal conduction?

Most smartphone cases are designed for ruggedness, aesthetics, or cost-effectiveness because these are the primary concerns for consumers. Thermal conduction is often overlooked as it requires specialized materials and design, which may not be a priority for the average user.

What devices were used to test thermal throttling in the script?

The devices used for testing thermal throttling were the Galaxy S10 Plus representing Android, and the iPhone XS Max representing iOS.

What method was initially used to test for thermal throttling in the script?

The initial method used to test for thermal throttling was running Geekbench performance tests repeatedly to observe changes in performance over time.

Why did the script mention using an APK extractor to change the app's name?

Using an APK extractor to change the app's name was suggested as a way to trick the device into not recognizing it as a benchmarking app, which some manufacturers program to allow more heating before thermal throttling occurs.

What alternative benchmarking tool was used when Geekbench didn't show thermal throttling?

When Geekbench didn't show thermal throttling, the script mentioned using 3D Mark as an alternative benchmarking tool to test for performance degradation due to heat.

What was the outcome of testing with the basic plastic case on the Galaxy S10 Plus and iPhone XS Max?

The testing showed that using a basic plastic case did not have a noticeable impact on the thermal throttling behavior of the Galaxy S10 Plus and iPhone XS Max.

How did the leather case from the Apple Store affect the iPhone XS Max's thermal throttling?

The leather case from the Apple Store surprisingly did not worsen the thermal throttling of the iPhone XS Max and even slightly outperformed the baseline test without a case.

What conclusion was drawn from the testing regarding the impact of phone cases on thermal throttling?

The conclusion drawn from the testing was that unless a non-breathable, insulating material is used to cover the phone, the impact of a case on thermal throttling is likely to be minimal.

What was the final recommendation regarding phone cases and performance in the script?

The script concluded that users can have both performance and protection with the right case, and it humorously recommended the 'ultra-thin animal skin condom' as a metaphor for the ideal case that provides protection without hindering performance.