How does the Xiaomi 14 Ultra's cooling system perform during long gaming sessions

Overview of Xiaomi 14 Ultra Cooling System

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features an advanced cooling system branded as the "Dual-Channel IceLoop System." This is an all-new liquid cooling technology designed to support overall device cooling. It integrates a dedicated thermal loop specifically for camera thermal management, in addition to cooling the main system components. Together with graphite sheets and a vapor chamber, this system is engineered to keep the phone's temperature in check during everyday usage as well as heavy tasks like long gaming sessions.

Gaming Performance and Thermal Behavior

During intensive gaming sessions, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra shows strong performance retention thanks to its cooling solution. In demanding games such as Genshin Impact, Diablo Immortal, and Call of Duty: Mobile, the phone is able to maintain a stable 60fps at max settings without noticeable frame drops or stuttering. This smooth frame rate indicates that thermal throttling—when the processor lowers its speed to prevent overheating—is effectively minimized during gameplay.

The phone does become warm when pushed hard. For example, testing with Genshin Impact reveals temperatures reaching around 45 degrees Celsius, which is the thermal limit before throttling activates. Despite this heat, the game maintained playable frame rates, although some users pointed out aggressive thermal throttling could reduce frame rates to about 30-40fps in more intensive scenes. Still, thermal management remained good enough to prevent performance collapse or device overheating to uncomfortable levels.

User Experience with Heat During Gaming

Users report that while the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does get warm from sustained gaming or intensive use, the heat levels are manageable and do not become uncomfortable to hold. Compared to previous models like the Xiaomi 12 Pro or competitors like the Vivo X90 Pro, it avoids extreme heat buildup that would make extended gaming difficult. However, the warmth is audible and tangible, especially in summer or hotter environments, and this heat can impact battery life somewhat by making the battery discharge faster during heavy use.

The phone's flat sides with rounded corners also help in holding it comfortably for longer gaming sessions, aiding heat dissipation and grip.

Benchmark and Stress Test Insights

In synthetic benchmarks stressing the CPU and GPU for extended periods (like the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test), the Xiaomi 14 Ultra showed minimal throttling, with its performance barely dropping throughout the test duration. This contrasts with many other phones whose scores fall as temperatures rise. This behavior reflects effective heat dissipation by the cooling system, allowing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and Adreno 750 GPU to maintain high performance.

Cooling System Effectiveness Summary

- The Dual-Channel IceLoop liquid cooling system and vapor chamber allow the Xiaomi 14 Ultra to maintain optimal temperatures even with heavy loads.
- Temperatures during gaming typically rise to about 45°C before beginning to throttle performance.
- Frame rate stability remains high, with minimal drops, enabling consistent and enjoyable gaming experiences.
- The system prevents uncomfortable overheating, though the phone does get noticeably warm.
- Battery life can be affected by heat, with faster battery drain during hot, extended gaming.
- Physical design supports an ergonomic grip that aids comfort during warming sessions.