iPhone 16 Pro users furious over touchscreen glitches

Touchscreen response issues

Several iPhone 16 Pro users have noticed that their taps and swipes aren’t being registered properly. These issues interfere with normal use of the phone, making it difficult to perform tasks like scrolling through apps or typing on the keyboard. The problem seems to be widespread, with users reporting a range of affected actions.

The issue may be caused by a software bug rather than a hardware failure. The issue is reportedly related to iOS’s touch rejection algorithm, which is designed to prevent unintended touches. However, this algorithm may be overly aggressive, causing the device to reject valid input.

Touch rejection issues with thinner bezels

A key reason for this issue, as 9to5Mac suggests, could be the design of the iPhone 16 Pro. The device has thinner bezels than previous models, which could cause users to accidentally touch the edges of the screen, triggering the touch rejection system. The slimmer design could cause fingers to inadvertently rest on the screen, leading to swipes and taps being ignored.

The problem seems to be more noticeable when users use their phones without a case, as thinner bezels expose more of the screen surface to accidental contact.

User reactions on social media

Users took to platforms like Reddit to express their frustrations. One iPhone 16 Pro Max user described the issue as unique to the iPhone 16, saying, “This has never happened on any other iPhone model, but it happens regularly on my 16 Pro Max.” Another user mentioned, “Taps and swipes don’t register consistently. Typing is just so much worse.”

Interestingly, some older iPhone users who updated to iOS 18 are also reporting similar issues. An iPhone 15 Pro user wrote, “I started seeing this on my 15 Pro since I had dev 18.1 beta 3 and I still see it on my 16 Pro.”

Is the problem already on its way?

While Apple hasn’t officially addressed this issue, it appears to be related to iOS 18 rather than a specific hardware defect. Many users are hoping that future software updates will resolve the touch rejection issues. In the meantime, users experiencing this issue can try using a case or restarting apps to temporarily resolve the issue.