My phone keeps freezing and crashing.

If you can, check your battery health maximum capacity. If it is close to 85-80%, your battery might have unpredictable behavior.

If it is okay, something could have gone wrong during the latest update procedure.

I would try to install a fresh copy of iOS/iPadOS. To do this, create a full backup of your iPhone/iPad (1), then restore it to factory settings (you need a computer to perform this step) and, in the end, set it up as new (2).

When done, restore data from your previously made backup (3).

Follow the instructions provided in these support articles:

(1) How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch – Apple Support

(2) Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings – Apple Support

(3) Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup

If the issue still persists, contact Apple Support directly using this link:--> Get Support or, even better, make an appointment (*) and have your device inspected at an Apple Store or AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider) among this list:--> Apple – Location Selector. After checking it out, they'll give you all the available options.

Regards

Giulio

In such a situation, it might be a hardware (digitizer? other internal component?) failure but we, just users like you, cannot diagnose that issue remotely, sorry.

As already suggested, I'd make an appointment (*) and have your device inspected at an Apple Store or AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider).

Regards

Giulio

(*) You can do it:

• Online:--> Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple;
• Contacting a local Apple Store or AASP among the list provided above;
• Using the "Apple Store" app, available and downloadable from AppStore.

I have the exact same thing happening. I updated to IOS 16.1 when it came out so I wonder if it's something with that. I am taking to Best Buy today for an appointment. I can't back up my phone either and it's never been backed up so I hope I don't have to do everything from scratch or worse have to buy a new phone. It's less than a year old so I hope it would be covered under warranty.