Razer Chroma Phone Cooler: More Than Just a Gimmick

If I would tell you that you can get a smartphone cooler that you can attach to your phone, you may be thinking this is a gimmick. It sounds like something that is unnecessary but Razer would argue against that. For the average smartphone user, it may not make that much sense but for someone heavy into mobile gaming, the new Razer phone cooler is anything but a gimmick. It was designed to have a functional purpose but does it truly help keep thermal throttling at bay during intense gaming sessions?

The Problem

The issue with mobile gaming is that while you can have amazing graphics on a flagship smartphone, thermal management is a problem. Games such as Genshin Impact look amazing on the latest iPhone or a flagship Android device. The problem is that it is a very demanding game and it causes smartphones to heat up. If thermal management is not great, you will end up seeing framerate drops. This is a common issue when trying to play a demanding game on a mobile device with a 120 Hz display.

The Solution

Solving thermal throttling and improving thermal management cannot be done without using external cooling devices. While Razer may not be the first company to make a phone cooler, at first glance, it appears that their cooler works better than expected. It manages to reduce surface temperatures on smartphones by at least 10 degrees. This can be just enough to prevent a smartphone from reaching a thermal throttling point.

How It Works

The way the phone cooler works are very simple. Razer makes their cooler in two similar models. One is dedicated to iPhones while the other one is nearly identical but has clamps on the side to be attachable to any device. The Android one works on iPhones as well. Having the adjustable clamps allows it to grab the phone by its sides and stay tightly in place. On the other hand, the iPhone version does not have clamps and uses a magnet to grab onto the back of the device. It appears to work well, even if you have a case on.

When it comes the why you would choose one over the other is also about how they can be powered. If you are an iPhone user, you can get either of them. For Android users, you cannot use it that is designed for the iPhone. It is important to note that the iPhone version can only be powered by the included charger. On the other hand, the Android version can be powered by the phone it is stuck on using a USB-C cable.

Verdict

Razer managed to make a reasonable cooler that helps manage the temperature of a smartphone. The challenging part is that when the cooler is placed over a case, a thermal transfer is obstructed and the results are not as good. The new Razer phone cooler works very well when attached to the phone directly. Since you would not want to drain your battery to use the cooler, you will need to carry a power bank or stay close to a wall socket.