The recent release of iOS 18.2 brought exciting new Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground, Genmoji, and an improved Mail app. However, some users are reporting a less welcome side effect: significant overheating, particularly when using Image Playground.
Reports of excessive heat generation, primarily linked to the Image Playground app, have surfaced on platforms like Reddit. One user sarcastically dubbed it a “secret hand-warming feature” for the winter months, sparking a flurry of similar complaints. Users describe their iPhones becoming uncomfortably hot, with some even claiming it burns their fingerprints. While the issue seems most prevalent with the iPhone 16 Pro, users with iPhone 15 models have also reported experiencing the same problem.
An iPhone showing an Apple Intelligence rendering of Steve Jobs in the Image Playground app.
Interestingly, the overheating isn’t limited to Image Playground. Several users have indicated that Photos and FaceTime also cause their devices to overheat after the update, suggesting a broader issue with the iOS 18.2 update. This problem was initially reported during the beta phase but seems to have persisted into the public release. Despite these widespread reports, some users claim to have experienced no overheating or performance issues with the new features. This discrepancy suggests the problem may not affect all devices or usage patterns equally.
Beyond the discomfort of a hot phone, the overheating also impacts battery life. Users have observed a rapid battery drain while using Image Playground, with some reporting a visible “tick down” in battery percentage. This drain likely stems from the app’s on-device image generation. While this approach enhances privacy by avoiding server-side processing, it places a heavier burden on the iPhone’s processor and GPU. Without adequate cooling mechanisms, the increased workload generates excessive heat, affecting performance and battery consumption.
Given the prevalence of these overheating and battery drain issues, users are hopeful that Apple will address these concerns with a future firmware update. Optimizing performance and heat management within Image Playground and other affected apps would significantly improve the user experience.
