Reports of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro overheating are likely a result of the company’s decision to design a lighter phone, a top Apple supply chain analyst said Tuesday, adding to wider concerns about the device’s build quality.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro titanium signage is displayed at The Grove Apple retail store on release day in Los Angeles, California.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- According to various reports and tests, the phone can get hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit—as high as 116F in some instances—especially while charging, making it too hot to hold.
- The overheating reports follow other concerns about Apple’s decision to go with titanium housing for the 15 Pro, including fingerprints changing their color, being more prone to deep scratches and potentially more fragile.
- Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities who reports on Apple’s supply chain, said the 15 Pros are likely overheating due to “compromises made in the thermal system design to achieve a lighter weight.”
- Detailing these design “compromises,” Kuo pointed to the 15 Pro’s “reduced heat dissipation area” and Apple’s decision to choose a titanium body instead of the traditional stainless steel.
- The analyst also dismissed suggestions that the overheating was a result of an issue with Apple’s new advanced TSMC-made 3 nanometer chips.
- Forbes has contacted Apple for comment.
What We Don’t Know
It is unclear how widespread the overheating issue is and if Apple will address it. Kuo’s blog noted that if the company fails to address the problem, it could affect sales of the device at a time when Apple is already dealing with a sales slump. Kuo suggests Apple may push software updates to resolve the issue, but its usefulness will likely be limited unless the company decides to downgrade the phone’s performance—something the company boasted about while unveiling the device.
Tangent
Popular YouTuber Zack Nelson, who runs the channel JerryRigEverything and is known for subjecting phones to stringent durability tests, expressed concerns about the 15 Pro’s build quality. In a video, Nelson held the phone in his hands and pressed down on its back with his thumbs, which resulted in the back glass shattering immediately. Nelson claimed that in 11 years of testing phones in this way, most phones do not break, and “iPhones especially do not break, like ever.” The unscientific nature of the test means it is unclear if the damage is the result of a structural weakness in the phone. The new phone has also been marred by software glitches during its setup process and other complaints of laggy performance.
What To Watch For
The iPhone 15 Pros are not the only new Apple product to receive criticism. Last week, several reviews criticized the company’s new “FineWoven” faux suede leather accessories, including cases and wallets, for their poor quality. Apple launched the FineWoven products alongside the new iPhones, positioning them as a replacement for its premium leather accessories—which the company ditched to lower its carbon footprint.
However, reviews suggest they are prone to getting scratched after days of regular use and sometimes appear worn right out of the box. Seemingly aware of this issue, Apple has reportedly sent a memo to its retail employees asking them to tell customers that FineWoven cases “may look different and show wear over time as the fibers get compressed with normal use.”
