iPhone 16 Pro gets very hot while using the camera

It’s normal for your iPhone to get warm when using the camera app as that’s a graphic and processor-intensive app. But if you are using the camera for an extended period of time it can display the temperature warning message. How often and for how long are you using the camera when you get those messages? It can also indicate a hardware issue. If you get the message most or every time, you would want to have your iPhone evaluated at your nearest Apple Store’s Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

CoreCarebody wrote:

I get the message from time to time. I do a lot of nature photography with my phone, and there have been days when the ambient temperature has been close to 100 degrees farenheight. I figured that the phone was fairly impervious to outdoor heat, so I didn't factor in the weather. Should I?

But, I get the same message at times when inside an air-conditioned building. Thanks.

Oh, yes indeed you should factor in the temperature the phone is being operated in. Apple specifically says iPhone is designed to be used in temperatures from 32º to 95º F. Since it's natural for a phone to get heated when using the camera, using it in environments which exceed the guidelines set by Apple would certainly be a good reason the phone is overheating. And even in air-conditioned spaces, using the camera for an extended period of time will generate heat naturally.

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🔍 Find app/settings causing heat

My experience says this is purely caused by some third-party app that you may have installed.

I am not aware of the ambient temperature in which you are using the iPhone. However --> Keeping iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch within acceptable ...

Store the device where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Don’t leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.

Use iOS devices where the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). Low- or high-temperature conditions might cause the device to change its behavior to regulate its temperature. Using an iOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range might temporarily shorten battery life and could cause the device to turn off. Battery life will return to normal when you bring the device back to higher ambient temperatures. Using an iOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life.

CoreCarebody wrote:

Thanks, all. Has anyone noticed a difference in the phone heating during camera use based on the type or material of the phone case? Mine is a clear case, but it is fairly thick.

Thick cases can trap heat, and that can definitely be exacerbating the issue. Have you tried a different case, or none at all for a bit?

CoreCarebody wrote:

Thanks, all. Has anyone noticed a difference in the phone heating during camera use based on the type or material of the phone case? Mine is a clear case, but it is fairly thick.

The thicker the case, the more heat it can keep in. That's not unusual.

Is normal