Assemblies and methods for dissipating heat from handheld electronic devices

According to various aspects of the present disclosure, exemplary embodiments include assemblies and methods for dissipating heat from an electronic device by a thermally-conducting heat path to the external casing via one or more portions of an electromagnetic interference shield and/or thermal interface material disposed around the device's battery or other power source. In an exemplary embodiment, a thermally conductive structure which comprises elastomer may be disposed about or define a battery area such that heat may be transferred to the external casing by a thermally-conductive heat path around the battery area through or along the thermally conductive structure which comprises elastomer.