Things are not going so well for Apple. The Cupertino company recently launched the iPhone 15 lineup, and consumers have been using them for a week at this point. While the new iPhones have received a lot of praise for the improvements they bring, that praise has been overshadowed by complaints of how the iPhone 15's design isn't as tough and how it can't seem to keep temperatures in check.
Most of those complaints seem to be coming from iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users, especially the ones about overheating as the standard and Plus models don't have the new Apple A17 chip. Many are expecting software updates to address the heating issues, but Apple might just have to recall its latest flagship instead.
iPhone 15's Pro models might have a serious heating issue
One iPhone 15 Pro user shared a picture of their phone swelling up near the bottom of the screen after they started using a case, which probably resulted in the heat getting bottled up inside. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have problems keeping thermals in check out of the box, and it's possible slapping a case on them only serves to aggravate the issue.
Woah. Someone's iPhone 15 Pro turned into a spicy pillow (swollen battery 💣) after the guy started using it in a case and then noticed the case didn't fit properly coz the iPhone's got thic. What is going on? 😳
Samsung's curse hitting apple lmao. 💀Hope its just a rare issue.… pic.twitter.com/Yfv2RHCXAn
— Zaryab Khan (@xeetechcare) September 28, 2023
Not every iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max is overheating, so it doesn't look like all units are affected. But the issue seems to be widespread enough that Apple won't be able to sweep things under the rug or tell people they're “holding it wrong” as it did years ago in response to the iPhone 4's connection issues.
Software updates to make the new A17 chip use less power and, therefore, run cooler could be one solution Apple pursues, but if people are already seeing their phone's battery swell up, it might be a symptom of a deeper issue that can't be fixed through software. Apple certainly doesn't want a Galaxy Note 7 situation on its hands, and it will be interesting to see how it responds.
For now, Apple is providing excuses such as initial device setup to be the cause of the iPhone 15s running hotter than usual, but people have also reported high temperatures when scrolling through Instagram reels or charging their phone, so you may want to hold off on buying an iPhone 15 (especially the Pro and Pro Max models) and also recommend people you know to do the same.
And if you have the urge to buy a new phone, don't feel like waiting, and don't care about living in the Apple ecosystem, you can get great deals on a Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, or Galaxy S23 Ultra on Samsung's website. Or you could wait for the Galaxy S24 lineup, which rumors say could be here a little earlier than previously expected.
