Apple iPhone 18 Pro series faces Face ID bug and thermal performance tests

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models have faced technical scrutiny following the release of the devices in September 2026. A software bug was identified where Face ID failures caused the phones to restart unexpectedly, particularly when accessing secure apps like banking or passwords. Apple addressed this issue via the iOS 27.0.1 update. In South Korea, approximately 1,500 devices were replaced due to the error, though devices fixed by the software update were excluded from the replacement program.

In addition to the software issue, performance testing of the iPhone 18 Pro Max highlights significant hardware improvements. Utilizing the A20 Pro chip and a new vapor chamber cooling system, the device demonstrates superior thermal management compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. During extended gaming sessions of Resident Evil 4 Remake and Death Stranding, the iPhone 18 Pro Max maintained much higher frame rates and delayed thermal throttling, showing more stable performance under heavy workloads.