- Apple released its new iPhone 15 series in stores on September 22.
- Multiple complaints from customers said the new iPhones get too hot to hold while using.
If you recently bought a new iPhone, you might have noticed it can get literally too hot to handle — and Instagram doomscrolling could be part of the problem.
Since the iPhone 15 release on September 22, many users have complained about the phones overheating while using games or apps like Google Maps, some to the point that customers couldn’t even hold the devices.
According to Apple, the issue isn’t in the new titanium design but a bug in software.
In a statement given to CNBC Saturday, Apple suggested that a problem with iOS 17 is contributing to the overheating, as well as third-party apps that overload the phones’ systems.
“We’re working with these app developers on fixes that are in the process of rolling out,” the statement said.
Instagram already made changes to their app earlier this week to prevent overheating on new iPhones, according to AP. Other apps like Uber and some games using intensive graphics are working on updates, per AP.
Apple also said their phones might be hotter in the first few days of use, when there is a lot of “background” activity on the phone, per CNBC.
In the period before the promised updates roll out, Apple directed customers to view an existing help page on the website, which offers general advice to regulate an iPhone or iPad’s temperature. Some tips recommend moving the phone to a cooler environment or turning it off.
Previous reporting from Insider found some users claimed their phones — which can cost up to $1,600 for the most premium model — heated up to as much as 108 degrees Fahrenheit after just minutes of use. Others said in addition to the overheating, their batteries were draining quickly.
One post on the Apple community boards complaining about overheating had nearly 500 replies and nearly 3,000 “Me too” reactions.
Apple, Meta, and Uber didn’t respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.