No, overheating iPhones will not explode!

• Overheating iPhones have been reported since the launch of the iPhone 15.
• Apple has acknowledged the issues and will issue a fix. 
• The new iPhones are using USB-C connectors to charge.  

Several users have begun reporting overheating iPhones in the wake of the iPhone 15 launch. The iPhone 15 is, coincidentally. also the first Apple phone to use a USB-C connector to charge.

Social media and Apple online forums are trending with users complaining of their new devices overheating as they used certain apps and browsed their phones. According to a report by Bloomberg, some of the first few owners who got their hands on the device experienced overheating while charging their devices as well.

The report said that customers felt the back or side of the phone became too hot to touch, not only when using certain gaming apps but also when making calls or using FaceTime video chat. The report added that some users experienced overheating in their new iPhones more when it was plugged in to charge.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kua speculated that the design choices of the iPhone 15, including the use of its new titanium frame, could be the cause of overheating issues. However, even the models that do not have a titanium build have been reported as having overheating issues – suggesting that the cause of the problem lies elsewhere.

“My survey indicates that the iPhone 15 Pro series overheating issues are unrelated to TSMC’s advanced 3nm node. The primary cause is more likely the compromises made in the thermal system design to achieve a lighter weight, such as the reduced heat dissipation area and the use of a titanium frame, which negatively impacts thermal efficiency.

It’s expected that Apple will address this through software updates, but improvements may be limited unless Apple lowers processor performance. If Apple does not properly address this issue, it could negatively impact shipments over the product life cycle of the iPhone 15 Pro series,” said Kua.

The overheating iPhone issue comes at an important moment for Apple, given that its iPhone 12 was recently flagged in France for emitting high levels of radiation. French regulators instructed Apple to halt the sale of the iPhone 12 until a fix was made.

Apple responds to overheating iPhones

Before panic gets out of hand about whether the overheating device will cause damage to users, either through radiation or even explosion, Apple released a statement addressing the overheating issues on its new devices.

Apple’s statement ran as follows:

“We have identified a few conditions which can cause iPhones to run warmer than expected. The device may feel warmer during the first few days after setting up or restoring the device because of increased background activity. We have also found a bug in iOS 17 that is impacting some users and will be addressed in a software update. Another issue involves some recent updates to third-party apps that are causing them to overload the system. We’re working with these app developers on fixes that are in the process of rolling out.”

The third-party apps Apple has identified as contributing to the overheating issue include Instagram, Uber, and the racing game Asphalt 9: Legends. Apple confirmed that it is working with the developers of these apps to resolve the issue, with Instagram already implementing a fix as part of an update.

MacRumors reported that Apple was certain that the titanium case was not an issue for overheating and that the company would not be reducing the performance of the A17 Pro chip as part of the bug fix.

Confirming that the issue is not a safety risk and will not impact the performance of the devices, the bug fix is expected to be released in late October, with iOS 17.1.

iPhone 15 overheating? 📲

My thoughts ft. @_mattykay pic.twitter.com/lTqma6NcN4

— JHawk (@JHawkShoots) September 29, 2023

Can overheating devices explode?

Although Apple has stated that the new iPhone 15 devices are safe to use, some users may still have concerns about the overheating issues. In fact, there have been cases of mobile devices exploding due to overheating before now.

However, it is important to note that device explosions are often caused by overheating due to excessive charging or faulty batteries. For example, earlier this year, there was a mobile device that exploded on board a flight in India, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was most famous for its defects, that led to the devices becoming unstable and exploding. Samsung had two unprecedented recalls of all devices and eventually halted the production of that particular model. Reports later showed that the devices caught fire because of problems with their batteries.

As such, users should be vigilant when using their mobile devices. If a device feels too hot during charging, it is best to unplug it. As for users of the iPhone 15, while Apple says there is no concern, some extra caution when using the overheating iPhones could make a big difference. For now, Apple users must patiently wait for a fix to the overheating problem.

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