Apple says iPhone 15 models could be running “warmer than expected” due to a few factors, like an iOS 17 bug and updates to Instagram and other third-party apps

Widespread complaints about overheating of the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can be traced to several factors …

CNET 2023-10-01 Patrick Holland

Context & Ripple Effects

Reports of iPhone 15-series devices becoming uncomfortably hot had already made the issue a launch-period concern, particularly for the Pro models. Apple’s attribution to software and app activity shifts the discussion away from an exclusively hardware-based explanation, despite earlier coverage of possible thermal-design trade-offs in the lighter Pro models.

The episode quickly became a test of Apple’s ability to contain a high-visibility device complaint through software: a subsequent iOS 17.0.3 update addressed the warmer-than-expected issue.

First-order effects

iPhone 15 owners have a software remedy path rather than an immediate indication that the reported behavior requires a hardware replacement.
Apple and affected third-party app developers, including Instagram, face pressure to ship and validate fixes that reduce device workload or correct the underlying bugs.

Second-order effects

The distinction between software/app causes and hardware design matters for Apple’s premium iPhone positioning: it narrows the immediate case for treating the complaints as a product-design defect.
Prominent apps become part of the device-quality experience at launch, giving Apple stronger reason to coordinate performance testing with developers after major iOS and iPhone releases.

Third-order effects

If similar incidents recur, flagship-phone launches will be judged increasingly on the combined reliability of hardware, operating systems, and high-usage third-party apps—not on handset engineering alone.
Software fixes can contain some launch defects quickly, but repeated heat complaints would make thermal headroom and cross-app testing more visible product-selection criteria.

The trend: Flagship smartphone reliability is becoming an ecosystem-level outcome, with OS releases and major apps sharing responsibility for the user experience.

Discussion

@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
Given that iOS 17.1 is not expected to be released until late October, it's likely that an iOS 17.0.3 update is coming with Apple's promised fix for iPhone 15 Pro overheating. No sign yet of Apple testing iOS 17.0.3 in our MacRumors analytics, but I imagine it's coming soon.
@chancehmiller Chance Miller on x
Apple saying absolutely nothing, then issuing a statement in the middle of Saturday afternoon is the most “Apple PR thing” imaginable. https://9to5mac.com/...
@rjonesy Ryan Jones on x
Allow me to translate Apple-speak: - iOS 17 had a change that messed up some code bullllllshit Uber and Instagram do - god damn it, why did this have to happen on the titanium year WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/... [image]
@samifathi_ Sami Fathi on x
I expect this update to be out this week: iOS 17.0.3. No way they'll wait until iOS 17.1 in late October to address this, given the coverage and urgency of it.
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
Don't blame the titanium! Apple says iPhone 15 heat issues are software related. An iOS 17 update is on the way and Apple says it won't impact performance. Lots of details from the company here: https://www.wsj.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
An iOS 17 update is coming to mitigate issue while culprit apps include Instagram, Asphalt 9 and Uber. Apple also denying titanium or USB-C are causing issues. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
NEW: Apple says iPhone overheating issues are related to iOS 17 bug, device working overtime at set up and some third-party apps. Company says issues are unrelated to titanium and it won't need to throttle chip. Fixes are on the way. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@jetscott @jetscott on x
Haven't updated to new iPhone but is the overheating partly due to new phones setting up things and indexing stuff for a day or two? Or is it persistent? I am still using 14 Pro right now and have no idea
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
NEW: Apple said it plans to release an iOS 17 update to address a bug related to the iPhone 15 Pro overheating issue. Apple statement below via @davidphelan2009. “We have identified a few conditions which can cause iPhone to run warmer than expected. The device may feel warmer...
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
There it is! Apple will release a software update to address overheating issues. Will be interesting to see if benchmarks change. Some third-party apps (like Instagram) have optimization issues that overload the system and the chip, causing overheating. Culprit: 14W A17 Pro
@plainrocktweets @plainrocktweets on x
CONSPIRACY: Mark Zuckerberg getting revenge on Apple by ruining iPhone 15 Pro with Instagram??? [image]
@leakerapple @leakerapple on x
This is very interesting. In @MKBHD's latest iPhone 15 Pro review he said he has not experienced any overheating other than when using Instagram and listening to music. Is this whole iPhone 15 Pro overheating fiasco just because of Instagram? 🤔 [video]
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
Here's why Instagram could be causing overheating on iPhone 15 Pro: Some apps could have optimization issues to where they for some reason are triggering the chip to spike peak power usage while loading new Reels, scrolling, etc. The A17 Pro can go up to 14W of peak power.. 1/3 […
@mrbucket23 @mrbucket23 on x
For those with the iPhone 15 pro lineup, disable Background App Refresh for Instagram within settings or delete it until Instagram updates it.
@leakerapple @leakerapple on x
It seems the Instagram app is responsible for uncontrolled overheating and battery drain on iOS and iPadOS. Could this be the reason so many people are reporting overheating issues on the iPhone 15 Pro? 27°C (80.6°F) to 37.4°C (99.3°F) in a matter of minutes. via - @iPhonedo [ima…
@leakerapple @leakerapple on x
Got another one from @theramalmedia. There is definitely a common theme in this iPhone 15 overheating debacle. Processor intensive tasks such as ProRes video recording or gaming are not causing excessive overheating, but apps such as Instagram and Apple Music are. [video]
@ghost_asr @ghost_asr on x
According @iPhonedo from YouTube, it might be the Instagram app that's not working perfectly with iOS 17 and is causing the iphone 15 Pro Max to heat up so bad! It's not the phone, not the iOS optimization...It's the stupid optimization of IG that's causing all these problems. [v…
@lisaeadicicco Lisa Eadicicco on x
Apple breaks its silence on complaints regarding the iPhone 15 Pro overheating: https://www.cnet.com/...
@techdroider @techdroider on x
iPhone 15 Pro Max Overheating Instagram TEST: Initial temperatures: Front 34.4°C, Rear 34.6°C After about 15 mins on Instagram: Front 35.6°C, Rear 35.5°C, Camera area 37.2°C. Side titanium frame maxed at 32.2°C. No overheating observed. Major issue with iOS - battery was... [vide…
r/technology r on reddit
Apple will issue a software update to address iPhone 15 overheating complaints
r/gadgets r on reddit
Apple will issue a software update to address iPhone 15 overheating complaints
r/iphone r on reddit
Apple says a software update is on the way to fix iPhone 15 overheating problems - 9to5Mac
r/iPhone15Pro r on reddit
Apple Says iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Due to iOS 17 Bug, Not Hardware Design
r/apple r on reddit
Apple iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Overheating Exclusive: Apple Comments

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