iPhone 6s overheating

Question

Level 1

8 points

iPhone 6s overheating

So. I've read through hundreds of comments and found nothing that helps.

We have an iPhone 6s that is overheating. Here are the circumstances:

1) Switch on the WiFi

2) the area just under the camera lens (top right corner at the back) heats up within 30 seconds to an unbearable hot temperature.

3) The 'Temperature - do not use your phone overlay comes on and so you cannot switch off WiFi until it cools down... which it won't until you switch off WiFi...

4) Switch off WiFi - let it cool down.

1) Needs to recharge the phone because even tho I just recharged it to 100% - the battery has fully drained ... and....

1) Make a phone call.

2) You have 30 seconds before it is too dangerously hot to be held near skin cells.

3) Say good bye .. Sound gets a bit choppy and garbled .... Hang up it cools down.

1) Update iOS.

2) Tried to 13.6.1 - no change

3) Now cannot update over the Air to 13.7 because the phone cannot be use on WiFi for more than 30 seconds at a time.

4) Use iTunes on an old Windows laptop - update to 13.7 (10th Sep 2020) over USB. All good.

5) No change. Phone continues to overheat.

1) All apps have been closed - no change

2) Background processing has been stopped

3) Reset Layout / Location / Network ... all done...

4) Phone rebooted twice (actually about 100 times) ... no change.

1) Trying to update Apps one at a time...

2) 20-30 seconds at a time before the phone overheats

3) Let it cool down... restart the app update..

4) I have done the smaller 60 MB apps... dreading the 600 MB apps like Keynote and Numbers etc... that going to take a few hours.. Audible, Hangouts...

1) WiFi has been off for 5 minutes... phone is cool as a cool thing floating on pool in the shade... but I've been asked to switch it on briefly while the owner sends a message from WhatsApp Mac..

2) 20 seconds .. now it's burning my leg, ouch...

3) switch off WiFi before the Overheating message pops up...

Things not tried..

1) Taking it to an Apple Store - not feasible in the time I've had it.. phone is vital for the owner - very very busy person...

2) The Hammer and Nail technique... (last resort)

3) Frisbee Therapy... or Water Skimming..

4) Switching on and off my WiFi router - in case of odd communication issue/packet fragmentation issue between iPhone and router - but it cannot explain overheating during a phone call - so I dismissed it.

Phone has been all good until now.. started happening two days ago. Found it overheated whilst on charge...

This is not the definition of a 'burner phone'....

Posted on Sep 11, 2020 10:07 AM

Reply

Answer 1

oliverslay Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 12, 2020 12:21 PM in response to Joseph_S.

We finally had the time to make it to the Apple Store today. We made an appointment with the Genius Bar... He witnessed the overheating and symptoms as laid out in the OP.

Date of Purchase - 1 Aug 2019.

So... it's 13 months into a 24 contract... useless and the proposed resolution is that it requires a full replacement to resolve the issue ... for a cost of £275 .. with a 90-day warranty on the refurbished replacement.

EE say.... well you have 11 months left on the contract... so you have to pay about £290 for an early upgrade phone.

iSmash - across the hall - said .. it's possibly something on the bar for the WiFi, front-facing camera, antenna - so you'll get overheating in the area when you use any of them .. and they'll attempt a replacement for £60.

(They nicely replaced the screen on her backup phone, because as luck would have it... whilst out for lunch this afternoon on the way to Apple Store, the wind picked up the piece of paper her phone was on... and the phone landed screen down on a brick pavement... and shattered.) Screen replacement for £35...

So. £275/£290 to resolve the issue on a phone that was working perfectly well until two days ago....

We're checking home insurance to see if it is covered.

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Answer 2

oliverslay Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 11, 2020 11:00 AM in response to LD150

It has to be used... the owner is trying to organise a University department with back to back meetings... and it's the beginning of term.

I'll add to this.

SMS Message: 08:27 - You have used 80% of your monthly allowance.

SMS Message: 11:00 - You have used all of your monthly allowance.

It should have refreshed today - so she's not too worried about it running out... but how did it run out with only 10 minutes of usage at 11am?

I would suspect that something is using the WiFi to send and receive masses of data... I am going to set up my packet sniffer...

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Answer 3

LD150

Level 10

104,534 points

Sep 11, 2020 12:09 PM in response to oliverslay

OK

Do not use or charge it.

Buy a new phone.

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Answer 4

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Sep 12, 2020 11:20 AM in response to oliverslay

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities.

We want to make sure you reach the right team for help with your iPhone 6s. We recommend that you contact Apple Support directly. Depending on your region, you may be able to reach them here: Get Support

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Answer 5

LD150

Level 10

104,534 points

Sep 12, 2020 2:16 PM in response to oliverslay

Month 13 not month 11 - so out if warranty.

However your beef is with EE under British consumer law, I think you will find. Retailer is responsible for product quality here. Take them to small claims court.

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