When subjected to heavy processing tasks, the iPhone 15 Pro Max can reach temperatures near 48 degrees Celsius, a level that could pose a risk of first degree burns in rare cases. This observation comes from GizmoChina, which monitors heat buildup under sustained workloads and notes that the device becomes noticeably warmer during intense usage scenarios.
A heat map published by Revegnus indicates that the hottest area on the device tends to be the processor region in the upper right portion of the chassis. GizmoChina also points out that the heating pattern might not be uniform across all devices, suggesting that the issue could be selective. The report ties the warmth to challenges in sourcing high quality A17 Pro chips, implying that the procurement process could influence thermal performance in some units while others behave more normally.
Conversely, a YouTube creator known as Vadim Yuryev attributes the heat to the chip drawing substantial power. In his assessment the processor’s performance comes at the cost of higher thermal output and more aggressive battery consumption, painting a picture of a powerful but power-hungry silicon core that pushes the phone to its thermal limits during peak workloads.
Although increasing current often boosts processing speed, GizmoChina observes that this effect tends to fade quickly under sustained load. In early testing, the iPhone 15 Pro demonstrated a rapid slowdown as the processor throttled its clock frequency to prevent overheating. On average, the A17 Pro’s power draw drops by about a quarter after roughly two minutes of continuous heavy use, signaling a self-regulating response that curtails sustained peak performance in service of thermal stability.
GizmoChina also notes that the lack of an active cooling system in the iPhone 15 Pro Max contributes to the rapid rise in temperature and the prolonged cooling period afterward. The combination of high thermal output and limited cooling capability means the device can heat up quickly and remain warm for longer than some users expect, especially during long gaming sessions or extended high-demand tasks. Reports from early iPhone users on iOS 17 add context to these observations, offering practical experiences that some buyers may weigh when evaluating thermal behavior alongside other aspects of performance and battery life.