Swollen Battery on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max After iOS 26 Update - safety issue

I’m posting this because I’m genuinely concerned about a serious safety issue that started shortly after installing the iOS 26 update.

Before the update, I never had any problems with my iPhone. Shortly after updating, my boyfriend’s iPhone 14 Pro Max began losing battery extremely fast. It escalated to the point where he could barely use the phone unless it was constantly connected to a charger. Not long after, the battery became swollen and caused the display to lift away from the frame.

At the time, I assumed this was simply age-related. However, now (about two weeks later), I started experiencing the exact same progression on my iPhone 15 Pro. It began with rapidly draining battery life, and it has continued to worsen day by day. Now my device is also showing visible battery swelling, with the screen lifting from the frame.

In both cases, the phones were in excellent condition prior to the update. We have always used original Apple chargers and accessories only, and there was no physical damage, overheating, or misuse. This is not a cosmetic issue, the devices are now potentially dangerous to use or charge, which is deeply concerning.

I usually trust Apple and have had very positive experiences over the years, which makes this situation especially frustrating. The fact that two different models developed the same battery failure pattern shortly after the same update makes it very hard to believe this is a coincidence. I’ve also seen online posts describing similar experiences, but it’s unclear how to proceed.

I’m located in Austria and would appreciate guidance on next steps or clarification on how Apple is addressing cases like this, as this appears to be a battery malfunction posing a real safety risk.

Has anyone else experienced rapid battery drain followed by battery swelling after the iOS 26 update??