Thanks for your background, Jeff. I went to the very first Apple store in Palo Alto Ca the day after it opened. The Genius Bar really had "geniuses" back then!!
Te get up to date; Today, after a helpful Apple Support phone call yesterday where they said I could get a new phone, I went to the Store in Northern NV. They did a mechanical diagnosis and could find nothing wrong, and said- it must be a glitch in the software, much conversation ensued, leading to the fact, that they were quite knowledgeable, but left in the dark from Apple as to the fix. So, we reloaded system software in-store, and I finished the data/apps update at home. I haven't yet turned it OFF yet, as I have another support telcon scheduled tomorrow- non related. No explanation why many other phones don't have the issue, but with about 50 shoppers in the store, there were 3 of us with the same problem.!! It seems all [Apple]are aware that the problem first surfaced on some iPhone 15 models- before 10/24, but mostly iPhone 16- all models. I'm now thinking that it is software related, but with a connection to the "ON" connected function of the key- as in, when "ON" is pressed, the software/circuitry asks: is the Phone "OFF"(??), and/or a short or 'blind-garden path' has a reason not to allow the actual Turn-On. Maybe circuit board related, maybe lines of code related, or combinations. The tech pointed out that when a new rev is being built, it is something like going through a cafeteria food line; "We'll have some of this, not that, some more of the other", etc, and of course, each food item is prepared by different sets of people- they may not be talking to each other properly.
I just wish Apple had been more forthcoming and open about the problem[s], and on progress on the solution- at LEAST to their Apple Store techs and CSRs. So, I have my original new iPhone 16 e from Thursday evening, with today's reloaded system software, working OK since then, but not turned off since I left the Store. After my phone-cons tomorrow, I shall try OFF/ON again. The tech did say to let him know ASAP of any more and types of problems. I haven't made any phone call tests yet, that's on for tomorrow as well. . I will check the origin location tomorrow. Cheers and good feelings to you. Regards, Mike Jaureguy