Issues with multiple iPhone SE devices and iOS updates

Dear Apple Support,

I am experiencing significant issues with multiple iPhone SE devices in my household. These include one 2nd-generation SE and two 3rd-generation SE phones (one of which is less than four weeks old). Until recently, I had no issues with these devices, but problems began over a month ago.

The Issue:

When any of these phones go missing within my house:

1. Calls and ‘Find My’ Do Not Work: When I try to locate a misplaced phone by calling or using the “Find My” app, the phone does not ring or connect.

2. Battery Status Anomaly: When found, the phones show a significant charge (60%–100%), suggesting they were not powered off due to a low battery.

3. Unresponsive Home Button: Upon being found, the home button is unresponsive until the phone is restarted or interacted with further.

Recent Incidents:

1. 3rd Gen, Over 2 Years Old (Red phone): I misplaced this phone recently and couldn’t locate it using calls or “Find My.” I eventually found it in the house, with a battery charge of 85%, but the home button was unresponsive.

2. 3rd Gen, Brand New (Grey phone): Purchased as a replacement for the Red phone less than four weeks ago, this phone has also exhibited the same behaviour. I misplaced it two days after purchase and found it again later. Unfortunately, it has now been lost for nearly two weeks. I suspect it is still in the house, but I cannot locate it because calls and “Find My” do not work.

3. 2nd Gen, Older Device (Blue phone): This phone recently went missing and was found within 24 hours. Again, it could not be located using calls or “Find My,” and when recovered, the battery was at 65%, but the phone was unresponsive until manually restarted.

Context:

• Strong Wi-Fi Connection: My home has a reliable Wi-Fi network, which all the devices are connected to.

• Pattern of Failure: This issue is consistent across all three devices, regardless of their age or condition.

• Temporary Workaround: I’ve resorted to using a third-party tracking device to keep tabs on these phones since Apple’s built-in tools and methods are proving unreliable.

My Conclusion:

I strongly believe that recent iOS updates have caused these iPhone SE devices to become unreliable. The inability to ring or locate the phones and the unresponsiveness of the home button make the devices unfit for purpose. Had I known about these issues, I would not have purchased a new SE.

Assistance Needed:

1. Do you have any advice or tools to help locate my lost Grey phone?

2. Could you investigate if recent iOS updates have caused or contributed to these problems?

3. Are there steps I can take to prevent this issue from recurring on my other devices?

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.