Cellphone Reviews

iPhone 15 owners claim overheating issue makes it too hot to touch

The newly-released iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max are suffering from overheating issues, according to owners.

The flagship Apple phones are reportedly reaching temperatures as high as 47C, with some users claiming that the handsets become too hot to touch while not using a case.

“My iPhone 15 Pro Max is almost too hot to touch while fast charging right now,” 9to5Mac reporter Ian Zelbo wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I thought people were overexaggerating but no this isn’t great. Interestingly, if I’m holding it, the left side rail and a little of the back on the left side is what is the hottest by far… lines up perfectly with the logic board.”

Apple first introduced fast charging with the iPhone 8 in 2017, allowing users to gain up to 50 per cent battery in around 30 minutes.

With the launch of the iPhone 15 range of phones this month, Apple switched from its proprietary charging cables to a standardized USB-C charger, in order to meet new European Union rules.

Mr Zelbo noted that the issue was at its worst while his iPhone was fast charging from 25 per cent battery level to 60 percent.

“Past 70 per ent battery percentage it seems to have cooled down significantly (still hot but comfortable in the hand),” he noted.

The Independent has reached out to Apple for comment.

Other iPhone 15 users said they experienced overheating while playing games or scrolling through apps

Tech publication Android Authority reported that the problem arose “during long use sessions” while switching between chat apps and social media videos.

The phone gets hot in the space on the right side, across the bottom of the camera island,” said Android Authority’s Aamir Siddiqui. “This is without gaming, without being plugged in for a charge, and on Wi-Fi, so the heat is inexplicable.”

Tests by Korean YouTube channel BullsLab found that the iPhone 15 reached 46.7C while gaming.

Reports of the iPhone 15 overheating issue come amid concerns relating to the 2020 iPhone 12 model, which French regulators claim is emitting harmful levels of radiation.