My iPhone 16 Pro Max overheats while using the Camera app

Getting hot while charging is completely normal.

Likewise, speaking on the phone, particularly on a 5G network takes a lot of power, and even more under low signal conditions.

Both are completely normal.

So I’m guessing there’s really been no fix??? I’ve had the 16 Pro for a couple weeks now and while it’s stopped overheating on most apps, I can’t use the camera or camera related apps like say…CapCut or any app that had to upload something for more than a couple minutes before the phone overheats like crazy. After 3-5 minutes I can barely hold the phone and the functionality is nil and I literally have to set it in front of a fan to cool off in order to use it. I’ve scoured the interwebzdotcom and haven’t found a fix yet.

metsno1fan83 wrote:

In addition to becoming very hot while at rest, the camera is essentially unusable. Once I open the camera app and hit the button to take a photo the screen goes black and the camera app quits.

What happened when you installed iOS 18.1, which was released on Monday, which most people have commented fixed the camera issues?

I had the same issue with my iPhone 16 pro max getting hot and also my camera button was not responsive.

then I found out that after turning on apple intelligence in settings you have to long press the side button to activate apple intelligence. After that the camera button was working great and my phone was no longer getting hot.

I don’t know why apple does not inform everyone about this. They should include this in the instructions on how to turn on apple intelligence. There is nothing wrong with iPhone 16. Just have to know how to use it. Apple take note of this.

I can tell you what finally worked for me… don’t know if it will help you, and while my phone is still getting too hot for my liking while editing video and pictures, what I’ve done has made it better while charging and using it in general. First, I had to reset my phone and start over from scratch, not restoring from backup, or phone to phone transfer. Then because I synced my photos with the cloud I had to rebuild all my libraries on all my devices. Then I upgraded to 18.1, but I did it incrementally. That has resolved the getting hot while charging temperature stoppages and general use heat ups. It sucks havjng figure out all my settings, apps, app settings, etc, but something somewhere wasn’t playing nicer with the new iOS & iPhone architectures.

I have had this issue since getting the phone. I’ve been to Genius Bar for a reset and have spoke With support more times than I should have. They won’t admit there is a problem with overheating. They are now replacing it through apple care. I have tried every which way even to get the store to replace and they won’t so this is my last resort. I’d call apple care.

I just bought mine iphone 16 pro max 3 days ago, i barely used it since it's super new, it has been heating up, now my new worry is even if i replace it, what if the next phone heats up as well. I am so annoyed!

Unless it shuts itself off, what you interpret as "heating up" is normal.

If for whatever reason you find it unacceptable, you have 14 days to return your phone for a full refund, and can instead purchase something else that better fits your needs.

Has anyone in this forum figured out why it’s overheating and what is Apple doing about it? I literally got my phone yesterday. This sucks they should’ve fixed it before they let it go out and it’s been out for a good bit now.

I actually upgraded for the camera and it overheats every time I’m taking pictures. I can take 5 pictures with no “live” no “raw” no extra’s running and it gets hot to touch. My phone actually does say it needs to cool down. Seems to be a common issue for mine. I have had my phone since it first came out so a few months now. There is definitely an issue going on with this phone and overheating. Have never had this issue with previous phones.

Make an appointment to have your local Apple Store look at it:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Or contact Apple Support directly:

Contact - Official Apple Support

Having same issues and received my 16 Pro Max 2 days ago. I checked with thermometer and got a reading of 102.2 near top by camera. Middle of the phone was 100.3 and battery was at 38%.

Will Apple give us a replace our iPhone for overheating?

Just curious

I’ve literally only turned on my iPhone 16 and its setting everything up, but it’s extremely hot at the back