iPhone 15 'screen burn' issue is actually something else. And Apple has a fix.

2023-10-20 01:29

Reports of issues plaguing the iPhone 15 models, particularly the Pro variants, have been piling

Reports of issues plaguing the iPhone 15 models, particularly the Pro variants, have been piling up. The new-generation flagship line suffered from an overheating flaw, which Apple rolled out a fix for with a software update, but now there's a new problem affecting Apple's handset: screen burn-in.

As we reported earlier this week, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has been in the hot seat as users complained about seeing ghostly images of apps lingering on their displays. However, as Android Authority pointed out, it looks like something else is the culprit behind these residual pictures.

Note: We've tested the iPhone 15 Pro Max and we have not experienced any issues with screen burn-in.

What is causing the iPhone 15 Pro Max 'screen burn-in' issue?

Screen burn-in is a common issue that often affects OLED displays. However, it typically happens over a period of time — not in the short window that we've been seeing with iPhone 15 Pro Max. After all, the phone began shipping on Sept. 22. How is it that users are suffering from screen burn-in so soon?

A more accurate term to describe what's affecting some iPhone 15 Pro Max models is image retention, which is similar to the screen burn-in, but it's short lived and doesn't leave permanent damage, according to USA Today's Reviewed.

Apple released a fix

Apple released a software update for the issue to beta testers – an iOS 17.1 Release Candidate build – and some users are reporting that it has, indeed, fixed the image-retention issue.

"Many people informed me that the image retention (that I thought was burn in) has been fixed in iOS 17.1 RC," a Redditor with the moniker spriteice said. "I am happy to confirm that this is the case, after updating today the issue is entirely gone."

Apple hasn't explained how, exactly, iOS 17.1 fixes the image-retention issue that's been affecting the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, if your device has been suffering from the problem, hang on tight: the wider release of iOS 17.1 is coming on Oct. 24.

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