Apple iPhone 3GS has overheating problem, users say

APPLE is silent on reports its new iPhone 3GS handsets are overheating, with forums worldwide buzzing over the news.

Several tech websites have published claims by users that the handsets have overheated, allegedly resulting in burns and discolouration of the case, the Herald Sun reports.

The claims have also been made on Apple’s own discussion forum.

However, users who haven’t had any problems with the iPhone 3GS suspect the claims may be a hoax.

The first reports were posted on French tech sites Journal du Geek.com and Nowhere Else. One user, “Ben”, claimed his 16GB model discoloured on the back in the shape of the battery after he used its GPS and 3G features.

More than 70 replies included similar claims – including one user who said the new iPhone could be used as a cigar lighter.

PC World blogger Melissa J Perenson said her iPhone became “very, very hot” during use while plugged into a power point.

“Toasty doesn’t even describe how surprisingly hot it got,” she wrote.

“It was too hot to even put the phone against my face.”

Another person on Perenson’s blog wrote: “I had my iPhone under my pillow playing music through the headphones for a nap, I awoke with a sharp pain on my left arm under the pillow. I had been burned from the iPhone getting so hot.”

Another comment suggested the claims were a hoax and the discolouration looked more likely to be the result of the phone being placed on a hot surface.

Users of the new iPhone are posting to two topics in the Apple Discussion forum – “Battery getting hot” and “Has Apple acknowledged the battery problem with new 3GS?”

Reporting a friend’s problem, one forum participant said: “The phone got extremely hot. He almost put it into the fridge.”

Apple Australia has not responded to requests for comment.

Staff at Telstra and Optus stores in Melbourne said they were not aware of any customer complaints about the new iPhone overheating.

The back panels of demonstration units fixed to chargers and running all day at Telstra’s T2 flagship store were fairly warm but not excessively hot.

Optus corporate Corporate Affairs Executive Siobhan Quinn said there had not been customer reports of this problem, but any device issues would be referred to Apple.

Launching the new iPhone, Apple claimed the improved device now has “longer battery life”.

“(The) iPhone 3GS is not only faster, but with longer battery life you can watch more videos, listen to more music, browse the internet or keep using your favourite apps even longer,” Apple said.