iPhone 15 Pro overheating gets marked as an "expected behavior"

The iPhone 15 Pro models reportedly continue to suffer from overheating in circumstances where its predecessors used to do fine. Concerned users who have visited Apple Store for a device checkup were told that the overheating is actually an “expected behavior”. A technician at an Apple Store reported to a user that it’s safe to use his iPhone even if it feels warm as long as it’s not showing a high-temperature warning. Nonetheless, a Reddit user reported that his iPhone 15 reached a point where it became uncomfortable to hold with only minutes of camera usage.

Despite Apple’s attempt to address the issue with a supposed fix in iOS 17.1, some users are still experiencing heat-related issues even with the latest iOS 17.3 update.

Interestingly, several users have reported instances of their iPhone 15 Pro devices heating up even during light usage like browsing the internet. Notably, activities like these or even using the camera should not cause the phone to become uncomfortably warm within a short amount of time.

Speculations point towards the iPhone 15 Pro’s titanium frame as a reason behind overheating

The overheating reportedly persists even after a hard reset. So, it might not be an application or something related to the software in general. Significant in context, some users speculate that the shift to a titanium frame in the iPhone 15 Pro may exacerbate the overheating problem. Titanium is less conductive and less efficient at dissipating heat compared to the steel and aluminum used in previous iPhone models. But it brings a question – isn’t Samsung using the same material in its latest ultra flagship?

Notably, iPhones do not have cooling systems anywhere near as effective as some Android devices like the ROG Phone 8 Pro or even the latest Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra (Review). As every smartphone SoC manufacturer is pushing the limits to yield more performance than the predecessor, the power consumption and, in turn, total heat generation of the SoCs are also increasing.

Apple is reportedly working on a broader solution to the heating issue

There is speculation that Apple may be addressing this heating issue in the upcoming iPhone 16 series. A user on X (or Twitter), @KosutamiSan, claimed that Apple is working on implementing a graphene thermal system for the iPhone 16 to mitigate the alleged heating problem. Graphene, known for its excellent thermal conductivity and strength, could potentially offer an effective solution to heat dissipation. However, the production challenges and higher costs associated with graphene may further pose a price hike for the successor.