A growing number of iPhone 16 Pro users are facing sporadic issues with the responsiveness of their device’s touchscreen. Many have reported that taps and swipes occasionally go unrecognized, leading to difficulties when trying to scroll, press buttons, or hit keys on the virtual keyboard.
After conducting our tests and reviewing user feedback alongside an increasing volume of online discussions, it appears that this problem is more likely linked to a software glitch rather than a hardware malfunction. Specifically, it seems that the touch rejection feature in iOS is excessively sensitive, often ignoring intended touches.
Users may unintentionally invoke the touch rejection mechanism by accidentally making contact with other areas on the screen. Reports indicate that touch response issues are particularly common when a finger is near the Camera Control on the right side of the display, though the problem seems to occur at all four edges of the screen.
When this happens, the software can temporarily overlook any new touches on the screen, resulting in missed taps and swipes. This situation is illustrated in a post by Khaos Tian on Mastodon, though in practice, the manner in which a finger may rest on the screen can be quite subtle.
This issue may be further complicated by the iPhone 16 Pro’s exceptionally slim bezels, which makes it more likely for users’ skin to accidentally touch the edges of the display. A minimal area of skin contact can activate touch rejection, leading to frustrating experiences without users even realizing it’s happening.
The issue often occurs when users naturally grip the device, which may cause their fingers to wrap around the sides. This problem is particularly prevalent for those using the phone without a case, as the exposed edges offer more opportunities for unintentional contact. While using a case can help mitigate this, it doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility.