An analyst said the problem could affect iPhone Pro sales if not addressed
Complaints from users of its new iPhone 15 models about overheating, with some customers claiming that the titanium frame gets so hot, they struggle to hold it in their hands, Apple is addressing.
The iPhone maker’s forum carries customer feedback on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, claiming the handsets are overheating. “I had the new iPhone 15 Pro and it’s getting really hot, so hot I can’t hold it,” wrote one user. Another wrote: “My skin hurts!!! What’s going on with the iPhone 15 Pro Max???’. There are several posts on Apple’s forum reporting the iPhone 15 Pro series overheating, with one user posting a photo of his iPhone 15 next to a thermometer, which registers a temperature of 44 degrees Celsius. There are also complaints on X and Reddit.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple analyst at TF International Securities, said any overheating issue was likely due to “compromises” in the phone’s design as the company tried to reduce the product’s weight. The iPhone Pro model has a frame made of titanium, a poor heat conductor, which could prevent heat from dissipating into the handset. Previously, Apple had used stainless steel for its flagship phones.
Kuo wrote: “The main cause is most likely compromises made in the thermal system design to achieve lower weight, such as reduced heat dissipation area and the use of a titanium frame, which negatively affects thermal efficiency.” He also said that Apple will likely fix the problem through software updates. Kuo said the reported problem is unlikely to be caused by a new Taiwanese-made chip used in the Pro models.
However, the analyst said the issue could affect iPhone Pro sales if not addressed. The iPhone 15 went on sale last week. In the UK it costs from £799 (€924) for the base model to £999 (€1,155) for the Pro and £1,199 (€1,387) for the larger Pro Max. “If Apple does not properly address this issue, it could adversely affect shipments during the product life cycle of the iPhone 15 Pro series,” Kuo said.
The company’s customer support pages state that the devices may heat up when first set up, when charging wirelessly, or if customers use graphics- or processor-intensive applications such as games.
