Some iPhone 15 owners just can't seem to catch a break.
New reports are coming in detailing yet another flaw that iPhone 15 users are experiencing: Home screen apps are being burned into the screen of some users' devices.
iMore first reported on the issue after noticing a string of complaints about burn-in on the iPhone 15 Pro Max's OLED display on Reddit and Apple's own community support forums. Multiple users have also taken to social media in the weeks following the Sept. 22 iPhone 15 launch to share photos of the burn-in issue affecting their devices.
In the photos, clear outlines and faded images of home screen apps, dock apps, the keyboard, the lock screen time, and other elements can be seen lingering on the iPhone 15 Pro Max's display.
RedditIt's unclear exactly what's causing the issue and why only the iPhone 15 Pro Max models seem to be affected. As iMore mentions, OLED screens are prone to burn-in, however, tech companies have figured out ways to mitigate the issue over the years to the point where it's mostly been a non-factor.
As the TV manufacturer LG states on its websites regarding OLED burn-in, "most cases of burn-in in televisions is a result of static images or on-screen elements displaying on the screen uninterrupted for many hours or days at a time – with brightness typically at peak levels."
What could be causing this burn-in issue?
It seems possible that the iPhone 15 Pro Max's ultra-bright screen, which can clock in at more than 2000 nits, is causing the issue for some. As others have pointed out, the overheating issue facing some iPhone 15 Pro devices can be a factor as well.
Another Apple news outlet, Apple Insider, reports that based on the data it's been collecting since 2015, it doesn't appear that the OLED display burn-in issue on the iPhone 15 is any worse than it was in previous years. As the outlet points out, this doesn't mean that it's not happening, just that it isn't unique to the latest Apple device.
However, for iPhone 15's early adopters, it seems like this is just another potential flaw in a series of compounding problems with the new handset. Since its launch less than a month ago, users have reported concerns about the aforementioned overheating issue. The problem was so widespread that Apple quickly released an iOS update to help mitigate overheating problems and deal with potential iOS 17 bugs that could exacerbate the temperature of the phone.
If your iPhone 15 is experiencing a burn-in display issue, reach out to Apple support or book a Genius Bar reservation at your local Apple Store. While the problem is certainly inconvenient, users who have experienced this problem have shared that Apple is replacing units with a burnt-in display with a brand new iPhone 15.
