The overheating issue with the iPhone 15 may be due to compromises made in its design to achieve a lighter weight, rather than the new A17 Bionic chip.
Since the launch of the iPhone 15, users have been complaining about their devices overheating. Apple has now acknowledged the issue and stated that the device may feel warmer during the first few days due to increased background activity. Apple has also found a bug in iOS 17 that impacts some users and will be addressed in a software update.
According to an unnamed Apple spokesperson, apps like Instagram, Uber, and Asphalt 9 may be causing the devices to run warmer than normal. Instagram owner Meta has reportedly modified the app to help prevent the issue.
Reports of the iPhone 15 overheating have been circulating online, with some users reporting temperatures as high as 46C, even during simple tasks like browsing social media. Some owners have even reported that their phones become too hot to hold without a case.
Initially, people suspected that the new A17 Bionic chip, the first 3-nanometer chip used in an iPhone, was running hotter than previous chips. However, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the overheating is more likely due to compromises made in the thermal system design to achieve a lighter weight. The reduced heat dissipation area and the use of a titanium frame could be negatively impacting the smartphone’s thermal efficiency.
Apple is expected to address this issue through software updates, but improvements may be limited unless Apple lowers processor performance. Apple clarified that the fix, which should come with iOS 17.1, will not result in lowered performance as suggested by Mr. Kuo.
This is not the first issue related to the iPhone 15. One of the devices recently failed a bend test as a YouTuber broke it with his bare hands. While the iPhone 15 Pro held up, the iPhone 15 Pro Max visibly cracked when bent.
Overall, Apple’s acknowledgment of the overheating issue with the iPhone 15 and its plans to address it through software updates should provide some relief to users experiencing this problem.
