Razer RGB Smartphone Cooler Connects to iPhone Using MagSafe

PC gamers know about heat. When you’re in the midst of an intense gaming battle, the last thing you want is for your PC to freak out because your CPU or GPU gets too hot. That’s why gamers and other extreme users rely on products like CPU coolers and liquid cooling systems. You probably didn’t worry so much about your smartphone’s temperature while playing Candy Crush on your iPhone. However, Razer released a new product, Phone Cooler Chroma, on Tuesday to ensure your smartphone doesn’t overheat the next time you use it for gaming.

Of course, mobile gaming has gone beyond Candy Crush and Angry Birds. Razer (and some other vendors) have been trying to take mobile gaming seriously for a long time. The company’s efforts are mainly focused on controllers like the Razer Kishi that connect to your smartphone. There is also a Razer finger case for mobile gaming.

Released on Tuesday, Phone Cooler Chroma has a different purpose. Compatible with iPhone and Android phones (it supports “most smartphones”as stated on the Razer product page), this product is designed to keep your phone cool while pushing those limits.

Interestingly, the fan takes advantage of Apple’s MagSafe by allowing the cooler to be attached magnetically. This is convenient, but also means the cooler won’t sit directly above the phone’s SoC.

If you don’t have a MagSafe compatible phone, you can opt for the universal clip version.

Stay cool?

The cooling plate sits on the back cover and is topped with an electronic hot plate that uses Peltier cooling, also known as thermoelectric cooling, to transfer heat. The next layer is a heatsink under a seven-blade fan that rotates at up to 6400 rpm and is controlled via Bluetooth. Razer claims the cooler can stay at 30db.

On top of the fan is a cover with ventilation holes and, of course, RGB lighting. Does lighting help your phone stay cool? Absolutely not. But without it, it would hardly be a Razer product. The gaming brand even put RGB on their N95 mask, so the Chroma lighting isn’t surprising here.

The cover has 12 RGB LEDs, each of which can be customized in color and effect.

You will need a USB-C cable to power the Phone Cooler Chroma. The cooler comes with a 4.9-foot (1.5m) USB-C to USB-C cable, but that can be cumbersome when gaming on the go, which is what the mobile gamer does.

Razer hasn’t stated how much colder the product will be for your phone’s components. Unlike a CPU cooler, this cooler doesn’t directly contact the CPU and doesn’t have any exhaust vents to work with like some laptop fan coolers. Thus, heat transfer from a real SoC can be limited. Hardcore mobile gamers can figure it out for $60.