iPhone 15 Plus unusable after update

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Level 1

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iPhone 15 Plus unusable after update

Hello, I rely on my iPhone 15 Plus for work. Since the last update, the phone has become unusable. I visited the Apple Store three times, but they couldn't find a solution.

Here are the specific symptoms:

Standard Calls and WhatsApp calls do not work (no audio/connection).
However, Instagram calls work perfectly (so the microphone is physically fine).
The phone restarts randomly and overheats.

This strongly suggests a hardware issue with the Audio IC or Baseband chip. Has anyone managed to get a replacement for this specific board failure?

iPhone 15 Plus, iOS 26

Posted on Feb 8, 2026 1:34 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Community+ 2026

Level 10

238,516 points

Feb 8, 2026 2:27 PM in response to dargada

Apple will not replace individual components. You may find a shop with microsoldering skills, which is the only real alternative.

Have you tried restoring the phone as new and not restoring a backup? If it doesn’t work after that then it is definitely a hardware problem.

If you have AppleCare+ or AppleCare One Apple will fix it at no cost. If you don’t here is Apple’s repair options:iPhone Repair and Service - Apple Support

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Answer 2

LD150

Level 10

105,168 points

Feb 8, 2026 3:41 PM in response to dargada

The fact that whatsapp calls do not work but Insta calls do strongly points away from hardware towards software.

Are you running a VPN?

The random restarts might suggest battery problems, but would not be related.

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iPhone 15 Plus unusable after update

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