There are few things to look forward to each year: summer vacation, Thanksgiving dinner, Black Friday, and of course the annual iPhone update. This September, Apple captivated audiences worldwide with the release of its next iPhone (and questionable Mother Nature advertisement). Viewers’ jaws dropped and eyes bulged while watching Apple executives announce a replacement for the infamous mute switch, a new-to-iPhone USB-C port, and a slightly curved “space-grade” titanium frame. NASA and tech reviews alike gleamed a smile, daydreaming about the 10% reduction in weight and increased durability over last year’s stainless steel-framed iPhone.
Cut to a week and a half later, when jittery customers carefully unboxed their new metal-glass devices, powered it on, and tried out some of its new features. The cameras captured beautiful images, the vibrant display perfectly surrounded the “Dynamic Island,” and the titanium was oh-so comfortable to hold. Excited by their new purchase, customers phoned their families, friends, and acquaintances to express their joy. Yet, at the tone, their phones grew hot. Really hot. “Ok,” they thought. “It must have been a fluke.”
Startled by the portable Sun in their hands, the customers set their phones on the table, but unbeknownst to them, the table was covered in oil! The phones slowly slipped to the floor where the rear glasses shattered into a plethora of shards. How devastating!
Patrons from around the world have shared their frustration over Apple’s new iPhone 15 Pro (Max), citing how the phone has reached extreme temperatures while performing mundane tasks, and how the rear glass is prone to cracking after the smallest of drops. Social media posts show the latest models reaching 101 degrees Fahrenheit while on a phone call, and the curved titanium frame applying more pressure to the rear glass upon impact.
On the plus side, these issues are, for now, isolated to the more premium iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models, which are the only Apple devices both powered by Apple’s latest A17 Pro processor and made with titanium. Perhaps even sweeter, these problems are not common amongst all devices. As Mr. Sweeney shared, “I have the [iPhone 15] Pro Max. The titanium is definitely lighter than previous similar models. I haven’t had overheating. Overall, it’s not much different from my previous phone (the 13 Pro Max). The camera is good but so was the previous one.”
But what is causing these molten mistakes? Well, with the introduction of the A17 Pro chip, certain fairly simple tasks were deemed to require a significant amount of processing power. As the chip worked overtime, the phone rapidly increased temperature. While this is a software issue that can be mended over an update, the fragility of the devices requires more care.
Ultimately, the advances made by the iPhone 15 Pro (Max) should not be overshadowed by its apparent flaws. The overheating concerns have already been addressed by Apple and an official update is expected in the coming days, while a case (which most people purchase for their phone anyway) will certainly prevent damage during an unexpected tumble.
