Apple has apparently managed to fix a strange display error on its currently most expensive iPhones. This led to the devices regularly showing one or more horizontal stripes in different colors in certain situations. In the meantime there was a fear that it could be a hardware problem. However, this does not appear to be the case.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
The phenomenon occurred when starting iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but sometimes also when exiting sleep mode by pressing the sleep/wake button. The stripes were yellow or green, sometimes covering the entire display like it was a The Matrix screensaver. After numerous user complaints, Apple recently acknowledged the bug itself in an internal memo to its service departments and external repair companies (Apple Authorized Service Providers, ASP) and promised a remedy via software.
This now appears to be on the way in the form of iOS 16.3, which is expected in the coming week. Users of the latest pre-release version of the update, which has now reached Release Candidate status and could be available on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, will no longer see the error. The fix is also mentioned in the RC package insert. Of the current iPhone models, only iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max were affected – but not every single one either, which made the error quite mysterious. For example, an iPhone 14 Pro Max in the Mac & i editorial team behaved unremarkably.
iOS 16.3 announced for next week
Apple’s internal memo said iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max users reported “seeing brief horizontal flashes on the screen when they turn on or unlock their phone.” The company is aware of the problem. It is not hardware damage, and the affected iPhones are not repaired accordingly. They will “soon release a software update that will fix the problem.”
Apple has been working on iOS 16.3 for a long time, which should now be officially released in calendar week 4. Besides the screen issue fix, there are other bug fixes, security improvements, and new features. This includes the global availability of advanced iCloud data protection (Advanced Data Protection, ADP), support for hardware security keys to secure the Apple ID, fresh content for Black History Month in the USA and support for the HomePod, which will be released in early February 2.
(bsc)
