Apple Admits iPhone 3GS Overheats

Author	Gordon Kelly
Published	3rd Jul 2009

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What would it take to make an iPhone 3GS overheat? Apparently just the current English summer...

After a number of reports about heat problems with Apple's newest (and most expensive) handset the company has come clean about its worrying frailty to hot and cold climates and bundled the 3G along for the ride. It explained:

"Operate iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a place where the temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly. Store iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a place where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Don't leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range."

Side effects suffered by the handsets if they exceed these acceptable temperatures:

The device stops charging
Display dims
Weak cellular signal
Temperature warning screen appears with the message "iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it"

Apple stresses that both the iPhone 3G and 3GS comply with safety standards around the global having passed UL 60950-1 in the US, CSA 60950-01 in Canada, EN60950-1 in Europe and AS/NZS 60950:1 in Australia and New Zealand. This is all well and dandy but by comparison Nokia tests its handsets to withstand temperatures of between -40 and 185º F (-40º C and 85º C). Quite what iPhone owners in Nordic and South American countries therefore make of this probably doesn't bear repeating.

Interestingly, all the iPhone overheating reports we've heard to date have centred on the 3GS with the 3G seemingly immune. Has Apple tried to cleverly tie in the 3G so its track record puts peoples' minds at ease? Couldn't possibly comment...

Link:
Apple Temperature Announcement

Latest 4 of 10 Comments

Have your say: Leave a comment below about this article.

Joe said on 4th July 2009

Wow, another premium Apple product with fundamental flaw you wouldn't find on a budget model from another manufacturer. Can anyone tell me a single product from Apple in recen... more

Jesper said on 5th July 2009

If they made their products perfect you might not buy the following generation! Now that is no way to make money.

And this goes for the whole tech industry. When was... more

lifethroughalens said on 6th July 2009

@ Jesper -

"When was the last time you bought some electronics that lasted for more then ten years?"

You're kidding, right? I'm assuming your pretty young, because most electronic goods used to be built to last and were easily serviceable with a screwdriver a soldering iron and some common sense!

I'm still using a JVC amplifier from 1968 - solid aluminium and a beautiful sound - a set of 4 quadrophonic Marantz speakers - which look and sound great as do the quadrophonic headphones and a turntable from the 70's - yep, vinyl. And you know what? It makes all this cr@ppy (yet convenient) ipod speaker dock nonsense look and sound like the mass consumable junk it is.

It's only in the last 15 years that electronics has generally turned into predominately plastic tat that lasts months before it's obsolete or broken beyond economical repair - or both. Crying shame. Deliberate ploy to generate more revenue for the big companies whilst putting small businesses like Mr.Jones's repair shop out of business. That and putting big scary stickers on the back of products that actively discourage people from attempting to fix their own products for fear of invalidating the (probably useless anyway) warranty.

More recently though, I have several CD players from 15 years ago, walkmans (cassette!), VCR's, TV's, radios, cameras, tools etc... that all work as well as the day I got them. Ok, so an electric drill bought 20 years ago was relatively more expensive than todays drills, but todays plastic drills last about a year before packing up. I'm still using a Black & Decker drill my old man gave me from the 80's! Also I bought a TomTom classic some 6 years ago - use it all the time and I see no reason for this to pack up any time soon.

It's funny, now they've actually managed to turn longevity and quality of build into an unexpected and heavily charged for premium - as they have in every market sector from the Automotive to the electronics to home furnishing! Ridiculous.

Jeese...I sounding more like an old g!t everyday!

@ Jesper -

"When was the last time you bought some electronics that lasted for more then ten years?"

You're kidding, right? I'm a... more