The Wall Street Journal amplified the worries in a story citing the overheating problem in its own testing of the new iPhones, which went on sale a week ago.
It’s not unusual for new iPhones to get uncomfortably warm during the first few days of use or when they are being restored with backup information stored in the cloud - issues that Apple already flags for users. The devices also can get hot when using apps such as video games and augmented reality technology that require a lot of processing power, but the heating issues with the iPhone 15 models have gone beyond those typical situations.
In its acknowledgement, Apple stressed that the trouble isn’t related to the sleek titanium casing that houses the high-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of the stainless steel used on older smartphones.
Apple also dismissed speculation that the overheating problem in the new models might be tied to a shift from its proprietary Lightning charging cable to the more widely used USB-C port that allowed it to comply with a mandate issued by European regulators.
‘Breakable’ meme debunked
Meanwhile, US publication Consumer Reports has debunked a popular internet meme that Apple’s new phone cracks or breaks easily.
Using industrial-strength machinery, it found the iPhone 15 could withstand external pressure of up to 110 pounds (49.9kg) without breaking.
The phone also survived 100 drops in a tumbler without a crack.
Although Apple expressed confidence that the overheating issue can be quickly fixed with the upcoming software updates, the problem still could dampen sales of its marquee product at a time when the company has faced three consecutive quarters of year-over-year declines in overall sales.
The downturn has affected iPhone sales, which fell by a combined 4 per cent in the nine months covered by Apple’s past three fiscal quarters compared with a year earlier.
Apple is trying to pump up its sales in part by raising the starting price for its top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max to $2499, an increase of $200, or 9 per cent, from last year’s comparable model.
Investor worries about Apple’s uncharacteristic sales funk already have wiped out more than US$300 billion in shareholder wealth since the company’s market value closed at US$3 trillion for the first time in late June.
With reporting by Herald staff.
