Hundreds of users have complained on social media and Apple support that their new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max feel unusually hot to the touch. Some users even posted photos of iPhone thermometer readings showing results well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Apple said on Saturday that recent claims that new iPhones are overheating to the touch are due to a software-related bug and will be fixed soon.
The company says that due to a bug in the latest iOS 17 software and some third-party apps overloading the system, devices may get hot in the first few days as they work overtime to set up and restore user data.
“Due to increased background activity, your device may feel warmer during the first few days after setting it up or restoring it,” Apple said in a statement. “We’ve also discovered a bug in iOS 17 that is affecting some users and will be addressed in a software update.”
Apple says it’s working with the developer behind the app that causes iPhones to overheat and is releasing a fix. Some users are finding issues with Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Uber apps.
Apple denies that the heating problem is related to the hardware of the iPhone 15 Pro series. It said the upcoming software fix won’t involve slowing down the latest model processors.
This latest high-end device features a titanium frame first for the iPhone, and an A17 Pro chip with enhanced graphics components for improved gaming performance. Some researchers say these hardware changes may be causing the problem.
Apple has not revealed when the iOS 17 software update will be released, nor which version it will ship with. The company released the first beta version of iOS 17.1 to app developers last week. This version is scheduled for release later in October.
