Chip Production Issues Lead to Thermal Throttling in New iPhones

TSMC struggled with 3nm process, leading to low chip yield for Apple
Apple lowered efficiency standards and accepted more A17 chips to meet production
Increased power draw leads to overheating and earlier thermal throttling
Performance drops quickly due to throttling to protect components
Lack of cooling solution exacerbates overheating issue
GPU upgrades help gaming performance despite thermal limitations

phonearena.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/7/2023

New iPhone 15 Exclusive Exposes Surprise Apple Design Decision

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to have a smaller battery capacity than previously rumored, but the use of a 3nm fabrication process and stacked battery technology could still improve battery life by up to 20%.

9/12/2023

Apple Unveils iPhone 15 Pro Models with Titanium Design, Major Camera Upgrades, Satellite SOS, and More

Apple has unveiled the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, featuring a strong and lightweight titanium design, powerful camera upgrades, and the A17 Pro chip for enhanced performance and mobile gaming.

9/26/2023

iPhone 15 Models Face Overheating Issues While Charging and Gaming Due to Thermal System Design Compromises

The iPhone 15 series has been facing persistent attention for overheating issues, possibly caused by compromises in the thermal system design to achieve a lighter weight, according to Ming-Chi Kuo.

9/29/2023

iPhone 15 Pro Overheating When Using Instagram After iOS 17 Update

The iPhone 15 Pro models are experiencing overheating issues, particularly when using the Instagram app, possibly due to intentional battery drainage by Meta-owned apps like Facebook and Messenger.

10/3/2023

Apple Addresses iPhone 15 Overheating; Hanks Warns Against Unauthorized Deepfakes; Futuristic Ai Pin Revealed at Paris Fashion Week; Netflix Cyberattack Thriller Trailer Drops

Apple has acknowledged that the new iPhone 15 and 15 Pro can become hot due to background activity, an iOS 17 bug, and third-party apps, but stated that the issue is not related to the titanium body or the new A1 Pro chip.

10/4/2023

iPhone 15 Review: Excellent Camera and Battery Life Make It a Worthy Upgrade, Though Lacks Some Pro Features

The iPhone 15/15 Plus offer the best features of the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max in a more affordable package, with impressive camera capabilities, good battery life, and a sleek design, making it a compelling upgrade option for iPhone users.

10/7/2023

Apple Upgrades iPhone 15 Pro Max with Faster Chip, New Action Button, Better Camera Zoom and Switch to USB-C

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is Apple's most powerful iPhone to date, featuring an A17 Pro chipset, console-grade gaming capabilities, a new telephoto lens, USB-C charging, and an Action button, making it worth the upgrade from the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

10/11/2023

iPhone 15 Pro Users Report Ongoing Overheating Issues After iOS Update

iPhone 15 Pro users are reporting continued issues with overheating despite updating to iOS 17.0.3, experiencing problems during phone calls, gaming, and other activities, indicating potential quality control problems with certain batches of the device.

10/15/2023

Some iPhone 15 Pro Max Units Plagued by Screen Burn-In Issues

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is reportedly experiencing screen burn-in issues, adding to a growing list of problems for Apple, and affected users have posted about the problem on Reddit.

10/15/2023

iPhone 15 Pro Max Users Report 'Burn In' Screen Issues

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is experiencing screen burn-in issues, adding to a growing list of problems for Apple.