iPhone 16 and Pro Users Experiencing Frustrating Touchscreen Glitches

The touchscreen serves as the vital interface for iPhones, and any issues encountered with it can leave users anxious. Reports are emerging that Apple’s freshly launched iPhone 16 series, which hit the market less than a week ago, is grappling with troubling touchscreen problems.

Several users have taken to Reddit to voice their concerns. They describe a peculiar glitch where, if your finger or thumb rests near the new Camera Control, attempts to interact with the display using your other hand yield no results. One user succinctly summarized the situation: “Try this test: tap and hold the area highlighted near the Camera Control with your right thumb, and attempt to swipe with your left hand. You won't be able to tap or swipe in System Settings, while on the home screen, you may tap on apps but won’t manage to swipe.” This behavior suggests a potential software bug related to palm rejection technology.

In an effort to investigate, I conducted tests on four different iPhone 16 units. Despite thorough attempts on both devices running the initial iOS 18 and those with the latest release, I was largely unsuccessful in reproducing the reported glitches. However, in the infrequent instances where the issue seemed to arise, it occurred when applying excessive pressure on the edge of the display, which isn't a typical way most users interact with their devices.

Interestingly, it appears this issue isn't limited to just the iPhone 16. Some users have reported experiencing similar problems on older models, such as the iPhone 14 Pro, and even on devices running the previous iOS 17.6.1. This points to the curiosity that the glitch may not be solely tied to the latest model.

According to 9to5Mac, the root of the malfunction might lie in the overly reactive accidental touch rejection algorithm, leading to legitimate touches being overlooked. This means that unintentional contact with other parts of the screen could be fooling the system into ignoring what users actually want to do.

Though Apple has made no official comment on these issues as of yet, it is reasonable to assume that the tech giant is diligently working to address the reported glitches. Given that this challenge appears to relate to software rather than hardware, users can expect an update to rectify these frustrations in the near future.

With the iPhone 16 series generating considerable buzz, including its advanced features and upgraded specifications, it is disappointing to witness these early setbacks. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the situation and relay any forthcoming updates from Apple regarding potential fixes. Are you experiencing these screen issues on your iPhone? You’re not alone but help may be on the way!