Apple is working on a fix for iPhone 15s that are getting too hot to handle.
Even before the flashy new range of mobile phones was released just over a week ago, testers were complaining about the devices overheating in certain conditions.
The temperature of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, in particular, was shooting up during charging or demanding tasks, users were reporting. Some even claimed that the iPhone’s frame would get so hot that they could no longer hold it.
Now, Apple has finally broken its silence on the tech hot potato.
Over the weekend, the company acknowledged the issue to Forbes and Evening Standard contributor David Phelan. A fix is in the pipeline, the company revealed, but it won’t be included in the next software update, iOS 17.1, which is currently in beta.
“We have identified a few conditions which can cause iPhone to run warmer than expected,” Apple said in a statement.
“The device may feel warmer during the first few days after setting up or restoring the device because of increased background activity.”
The iPhone 15 Pro Max gets so hot sometimes, that if you’re using it caseless you can’t even hold it. pic.twitter.com/cZ9dAA1186
— Rjey (@RjeyTech) September 23, 2023
This aligns with Apple’s general advice for iPhone owners. The company claims that it’s normal for a device to feel warmer than usual when you’re activating it or backing it up, due to all the apps and files it has to re-download. Once the process is complete, the device should cool back down.
In the case of the overheating iPhone 15s, however, Apple is laying part of the blame on external apps. It said that the likes of Instagram, Uber and mobile game Asphalt 9 can all cause the iPhone to get hot, and Apple is working with the app’s developers on a solution. Instagram reportedly addressed the problem in its most recent update.
My 15 pro max charging is getting so hot around the frame while chatting I just can’t hold it
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) September 23, 2023
Seriously, it’s too hot to hold while charging
If you find that your iPhone 15 is getting too toasty for your liking, you can try and turn off background activity for apps to help reduce the burden on the processor.
“We have also found a bug in iOS 17 that is impacting some users and will be addressed in a software update,” Apple said.
That’s good news for iPhone 15 owners, as the overheating issue appears to be related to the phone’s software - making it easier to address as part of Apple’s frequent iOS updates - rather than its irreplaceable hardware.
Initially, some users had speculated that the titanium material used on the outer edges of the iPhone 15 Pro models could be the culprit. However, Apple has maintained that titanium is more heat-resistant than the stainless steel used on other iPhones.
All told, Apple is adamant that the new iPhones don’t pose a safety risk. It also insists that the issue should not affect the long-term performance of the devices as iPhones feature protections built-in to their software to prevent overheating. These include the ability to regulate the temperature to protect their innards if things get heated.
This is the second iPhone problem Apple has been forced to mend in recent weeks. Last month, the company promised to release a software update for iPhone 12s after France banned them for too-high radiation levels.
