My journey with the iPhone 16 Pro has been quite gratifying, but the initial setup was a bit rocky. Right out of the box, the device froze during the setup process, forcing me to reboot and leaving me anxious about potential data loss or boot issues.
In the weeks that followed, I encountered a frustrating issue where the screen would sometimes become unresponsive. This necessitated multiple presses of the lock button and a subsequent unlock process to regain functionality. These glitches were not isolated to one app; I experienced them across various applications including the camera and Mail, even after switching from beta to the stable iOS 18 version. It appears I wasn’t the only one facing these troubles.
A deep dive into the Apple Community forums along with numerous Reddit threads revealed two primary issues that many users are grappling with: overheating, likely linked to battery drain, and unexpected freezing—particularly within the camera app.
Reboots, lags, and app glitches
For several users, random restarts have become a significant source of irritation, occurring without notice. In some instances, devices reboot simply while charging, and in others, they spontaneously shut off during use. “While I was using it, the screen suddenly went black,” reported one user on the Apple Discussions forum.
Surprisingly, these random shutdowns don’t seem to be caused by beta software, as they are affecting users on the stable release of iOS 18. Numerous reports indicate that these spontaneous restarts can happen multiple times a day.
Another common issue reported is general lag in the user interface, accompanied by glitchy animations that persist even after a system reboot. Furthermore, it has been noted that the hardware shortcut to restart using the Power + volume button fails to work on occasion.
“It seems to crash multiple times a day. I find that every morning when I unlock my phone, the notifications from overnight don’t come through until I do so,” commented another user on the forum. Occasional complete blackouts of the screen also appear frequently in user reports.
Is the camera app the real culprit?
More concerning has been the performance of the camera app. Users have shared videos demonstrating the bizarre behavior where the app freezes when attempting to zoom in or find focus. Some have even reported crashes during basic functions like taking photos.
“While attempting to take photos, the Camera app fails to function and crashes,” mentioned another unfortunate user. Additionally, a new audio mixing feature could be contributing to the problems for those who are trying to optimize their experience.
The camera difficulties are not limited to only that app; other apps that utilize the camera, such as Messages, also seem to trigger glitches, resulting in screen locks. Users are reporting that the Photos app and its built-in editing tools are similarly affected.
“The camera app on my iPhone 16 Pro crashes frequently when I access it via the Photos app or other integrated apps,” shared another report from the Apple Discussions forum.
The aggravation intensifies when editing Live Photos, as reports show that the Photos app crashes during editing, leading to the loss of progress. Some users say they struggle with 4K recording, while others have pointed to ultrawide video capture as a source of frustration.
“I’ve switched to my second iPhone 16 Pro in just five days because I can’t edit Live Photos when I change the key photo,” expressed another annoyed user. A force reset has not alleviated any of these issues.
Frequent reports indicate that the camera app crashes particularly when using high-magnification zoom, especially at levels over 5x. A few owners sought diagnostic tests from Apple support, but these evaluations did not resolve the ongoing concerns.
Moreover, issues are not confined to the camera app alone. Several users have reported problems with native apps such as Siri and Settings, while third-party applications like Amazon are also showing signs of erratic behavior.
“I consistently deal with crashes. The Settings app and Calendar app are particularly problematic, often freezing mid-use. The Settings app goes black and then quits, and there have been multiple instances of my phone restarting entirely,” reported another user on the Apple forum.
Users have also noted lag in the on-screen keyboard, which I can personally confirm. At times, the keyboard fails to register keystrokes, even though it appears I am typing normally.
“I rely heavily on my phone for taking notes and drafting documents, so this glitch significantly hinders my productivity,” shared a user experiencing keyboard-related issues with their new device.
Currently, it remains unclear if these glitches stem from a faulty update or from bugs within specific applications. Apple has not yet addressed these issues or issued any fixes. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as soon as a solution is made available through a software update or official announcement from the company.