Why do iPhone 15 phones overheat?

Apple is actively working on fixes after users revealed that the new iPhones are overheating even with the most mundane tasks.

The company said the current overheating issues do not pose a security risk and will not affect the long-term performance of affected iPhone models. It also pointed out that iPhones have internal protection for components that helps regulate the temperature if it exceeds a certain value.

“We have identified a few conditions that may cause iPhone to heat up more than normal,” Apple said. The overheating can occur with some recently updated third-party apps that “overload the system,” it said. These apps include Instagram, Uber, and the arcade racing game Asphalt 9. “We are working with the developers of these apps on fixes that are in the process of being implemented,” the company said in a statement.

The company also said it has discovered a bug in iOS 17 that is affecting some users. Therefore, Apple plans to issue a software update soon to resolve the issue. He didn't comment on when exactly the fix would be available, but it certainly won't cover CPU or GPU performance throttling.

Additionally, Apple said that the phone may also heat up for the first few days after setting up or restoring the device due to “increased background activity.” In our experience, this is a very PR statement, as we have never encountered overheating due to copying data and installing apps while testing the phones so far.

Apple's support page warns users that the device may heat up when restoring from a backup, using graphics-intensive applications, streaming high-quality video, and wireless charging.

“These conditions are normal and your device will return to normal temperature once the process is complete or you end your activity,” the company states on its website. “If your device does not display a temperature warning, you can continue to use the device.”

Apple can't afford to delay fixes. iPhone sales fell for the third straight quarter. According to the latest research by Wedbush, about 250 million iPhone users haven't changed their phone in 4 years. It's a goldmine for Apple if it manages to win over these older users with the iPhone 15.