iPhone 15 Overheating Concerns: Causes, Theories, and Potential Solutions

Some early adopters of the iPhone 15 have taken to social media to report concerning overheating issues, with temperatures soaring to over 100°F, causing discomfort during use. Several incidents have been documented, including one user, Ian Zelbo, who mentioned that his iPhone 15 Pro Max became “almost too hot to touch” while fast charging.

Tech reviewer shared a video showcasing his iPhone reaching 42°C (107°F) after just a brief 2-minute FaceTime call or 8-10 minutes of scrolling through content.

Another user, Alex Gear & Tech, encountered a similar problem, with temperatures exceeding 100°F, even when the phone was not in active use.

Furthermore, thermal imaging comparisons between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra suggest that the iPhone’s lack of active cooling may be concentrating heat in specific areas.

Additionally, performance throttling tests indicate that the iPhone 15 Pro Max experienced a significant drop in performance after just two minutes of heavy loading, hinting at a potential thermal management issue.

Many of these incidents seem to be associated with USB-C charging, potentially indicating a bug under specific conditions or with particular charging hardware. Another hypothesis is that the iPhone’s titanium chassis, although known for its heat dissipation properties, might contribute to the perception of excessive heat.

It’s worth noting that while 42°C/107°F is indeed hot, it falls within the “no injury” temperature range for brief contact, according to safety standards. However, the persisting issue has raised concerns.

Various theories have emerged, including one attributing the problem to a rogue app, specifically Instagram. Others suggest a link to fast charging, with overheating occurring when using a 65W USB PD GaN charger, while using a 15W USB PD charger eliminates the issue, albeit with longer charging times.

The concentrated heat around the iPhone’s mainboard, detected through thermal imaging, hints at the A17 Pro chip’s involvement. However, interpreting thermal imaging through the device’s case can be challenging, as heat dissipation may not align with heat generation.

Whether this issue is a software bug or related to the iPhone’s thermal management during heavy workloads remains to be determined. History suggests that Apple typically addresses such issues with subsequent iOS updates, and this situation may be no exception.