Thermal management is built in natively to most devices. As such, news of a code-named “Adaptive Thermal” feature might not come as a surprise. Yet, this potentially new app-based service addition for Pixel phones showcases many interesting things that might change how we manually handle their temperatures in the near future.
There’s Always Room for (Thermal) Improvement
Overheating in smartphones is a regular concern for users every day. Currently, most overheating protection mechanisms typically involve (automatically) reducing performance and disabling certain features. Throttling down the CPU clock speed, for instance, or dimming the screen brightness. Anything that could reduce the power running through the circuitry, which therefore reduces heat buildup as well.
Often, units with poor (or zero!) cooling systems can experience a wide array of disruptive symptoms, including unexpected shutdowns, reduced performance, and even physical damage. In extreme cases, the phone may even cut off power entirely, shutting itself off until it cools down.
How ‘Adaptive Thermal’ Works
The proposed Adaptive Thermal feature appears to take a more user-interactive approach to thermal management. Quite a departure from what traditionally was an automated procedure. According to the APK teardown via Android Authority, it would operate in stages based on the phone’s battery temperature:
- At 49°C (120°F): A “pre-emergency” alert is triggered, notifying the user that the phone needs to cool down and may experience slower performance.
- At 52°C (126°F): The phone enters an “emergency” state, though specific actions for this state are unclear.
- At 55°C (131°F): A warning is issued that the phone will shut down in 30 seconds to prevent damage.
When the initial alert is triggered, users can tap a “See care steps” button in the notification. This opens a dialog (window) showing the typical management procedures, such as limiting performance speed and disabling 5G. It would also suggest additional actions, which include moving the phone out of direct sunlight, placing it in an open area, and closing battery-intensive apps, among other things.
Potential Impact and Release
It’s important to note that Google has not officially announced or confirmed the Adaptive Thermal feature. We only have Android Authority’s APK teardown as the source. While such a method has proven to be reliable so far, there’s no guarantee that Google won’t change (remove or add) anything before its launch.
Besides, given its unofficial status, any potential release timeline becomes purely speculative. However, if Google does decide to move forward with the feature perfectly as it is, it could perhaps launch with the public release of Android 15 or the upcoming Pixel 9 series later this year.
