Apple says it will fix software issues blamed for the iPhone 15 overheating problem
Apple is blaming a software bug and other issues related to popular apps like Instagram and Uber for causing its recently released iPhone 15 models to heat up, sparking complaints that they are getting too hot to handle.
The Cupertino, California-based company said Saturday that it is working on an update to the iOS17 system that powers the iPhone 15 lineup to prevent the devices from becoming uncomfortably hot and that it is working with apps, that run in a way “that causes them to overload the system.” .”
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Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms, changed its social media app earlier this week to prevent the device from overheating on the latest iPhone operating system.
Uber and other apps like the video game Asphalt 9 are still rolling out their updates, Apple said. It didn’t provide a timeline for releasing its own software fix, but it said that iPhone 15 owners shouldn’t let any security issues stop them from using their devices while they wait for the update.
“We have identified some conditions that may cause iPhone to run warmer than expected,” Apple said in a brief statement to The Associated Press after media reported detailed complaints of overheating circulating in online forums.
The Wall Street Journal added to the concerns in an article pointing to the overheating problem in its own testing of the new iPhones that went on sale a week ago.
It’s not uncommon for new iPhones to become uncomfortably warm in the first few days of use or when restoring with backup information stored in the cloud – problems that Apple is already alerting users to. The devices can also get hot when using apps like video games and augmented reality technology that require a lot of processing power, but the heating issues with the iPhone 15 models go beyond these typical situations.
In its confirmation, Apple emphasized that the issue is not related to the slim titanium body that houses the high-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, nor to the stainless steel used in older smartphones.
Apple also dismissed speculation that the overheating problem in the new models could be related to a switch from its proprietary Lightning charging cable to the more widely used USB-C port, which allowed it to comply with a regulation issued by European regulators.
Although Apple is confident that the overheating problem can be resolved quickly with upcoming software updates, the problem could still dampen sales of its flagship product, even though the company has faced year-over-year declines in overall sales for three consecutive quarters.
The downturn impacted iPhone sales, which fell a total of 4% year over year in the nine months of Apple’s last three fiscal quarters.
One way Apple is trying to boost sales is by raising the starting price of its top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max to $1,200, an increase of $100, or 9%, over last year’s comparable model.
Investor concerns over Apple’s unusual sales slowdown have already wiped out more than $300 billion in shareholder wealth since the company’s market value first closed at $3 trillion in late June.
