iPhone 15 Pro Max How is your backspace responsiveness?

[weezor]

Okay, so this issue is really bothering me and nothing seems to change. All three iPhone 15 Pro Max devices that I've bought so far constantly miss touches. It's most noticeable with the keys in the bottom right - N, M, J, K, L, O, P and Backspace (this one is extremely bad), but it also affects the "Done" button from the keyboard or camera shutter button and pretty much every other single press action throughout iOS. Sometimes it's okay-ish, and other times it's really bad, having to hammer backspace 5 times.

I'm coming from an iPhone X, and I can't remember a single time in its entire lifespan where it didn't trigger when my fingers had physical contact with the screen. Also, my iPad Pro from 2020 and my girlfriend's iPhone 13 Mini don't show any of this.

There are a lot of threads regarding this, but they seem to go nowhere, and there are always people who report having zero issues, which baffles me the most. I'm able to reproduce this issue with a brand new iPhone right out of the box, even before doing its setup. The first screen that shows up with the little info icon to reveal its serial number already shows that not every touch is registered. I've read about so many people on Reddit who got their device replaced by Apple, did a factory reset, or received screen replacements without any improvement. All of us with this problem are hoping with every software update that this will improve, but nothing is happening.

So now the question - and sorry for bringing this up again - but is your Backspace key registering 100% of the time, with every finger? Also, while having it tilted slightly sideways or while using your index or middle finger? Do you really never have to repeat the same action two or even three times until it gets registered?

I'm completely out of ideas as to what this could be. I did ask around in some threads where people bought their devices, and it was mostly Europe or Canada, but also one person from the US, so I have no more clues as to what could be the reason for this.

Searching for this brings up issues that sound extremely similar even with the iPhone 14 Pro, 13 Pro, and 12 Pro, so currently, I'm thinking that this is some strange iOS issue and not even exclusively iPhone 15 related, with some gesture recognizer that is blocking touches or a palm rejection bug that only some are running into. There's still a chance that most people are just not noticing this issue, or I'm just holding it wrong, but I can't believe this anymore as it's the same for my girlfriend when she uses it, and it's bugging me every single time I use the device. Every day, there are new posts in this Reddit thread with other people having the same issue. Also, in the Apple support forums, there are many threads about this and lots of "Me too" votes. We've done so many "Feedback" reports, but nothing is changing, nothing is being acknowledged or worked on, it seems.

Please help. I love this device. Coming from an X, it's a whole new world, but this issue is so frustrating. If you provide feedback, it would be welcome if you could mention in which country you bought your device, just to rule out any hardware differences.

 

[Iwavvns]

I have an iPad ninth generation. Typing on the on-screen keyboard makes me think that the upper right corner of keys on the on-screen keyboard are not precisely matched to the digitizer; sometimes I can watch my finger specifically tap the Backspace key and the Return key will highlight as if it were tapped. I'm thinking this could be a problem with iOS and iPadOS, rather than just the iPhone 15.

I work around this problem by using dictation most of the time rather than using the on-screen keyboard. Have you tried using dictation?

 

[weezor]

I have zero issues with my 11” iPad Pro. I experience what you describe only when using it upside down or rotated slightly. But I think this can be ruled out, as it also happens with larger buttons, and I don’t notice other keys lighting up on the keyboard. I can touch the same spot 5 times, and only the last touch is recognized. I could even reproduce this with a custom Swift app that visualizes every touch, regardless of the exact location, and even there, I experience missed touches.

 

[johannnn]

Do you have a screen cover? I just applied a Spigen screen cover and got this issue.

 

[weezor]

There is no screen protector involved in my case.

However, I’ve noticed many users with screen protectors are affected, as well as many without. Some report the problem persists even after removing it. But it seems to get worse while having one.

Did it work 100% reliably for you before you applied the protector? It’s odd because sometimes I have no issues at all and it recognizes every touch, but then suddenly the problem reappears. Also, with every iOS update, some people report the issue is resolved, only to later find out it returns and is as bad as it was with 17.0.1.

 

[johannnn]

Mine got significantly worse after applying the Spigen screen cover. And if it wasn't for the numerous reports I've seen of the 15 scratching easily (e.g. this one from today

), then I would remove it.

 

[kriegsl]

I agree with you. After using iPhone 13 and iPhone 15 Plus, I switched to 15 Pro Max.

After I started using it, I started experiencing the problems you mentioned and they still haven't been fixed.

(NOTE: I have this problem with or without a screen protector.)

I can say that the problem I am experiencing is a little different. If I do something on the lock screen or in the notification center (typing, deleting a notification, holding to change the lock screen) this problem occurs, it feels like the sensitivity of the touch screen has decreased by 70%.

For example if I want to reply to an iMessage notification from the lock screen, it barely detects my touches, especially on the right and left edges, but if I enter the Messages app and reply, I have no problems.

 

[weezor]

For me, it's exactly as you describe: it's absolutely terrible on the lock screen.

Using an alphanumeric password is a nightmare, even just hitting done. The same goes for replying to an iMessage or other messengers, and with lock screen customization as well.

I uploaded a video a while ago to illustrate this. That was with my first iPhone 15 Pro Max. Now I'm on my third one, and it was the same with all of them!

In the unlocked state, I can enter my password 10 times in a row without any problem. However, the issue also reappears randomly in the unlocked state, where it's remarkably bad at times, exactly the same as on the lock screen. But it's definitely more frequent on the lock screen.

 

[Iwavvns]

I wonder if this has something to do with the ceramic shield layer that’s on iPhone displays. Which iPhone was the first to have the ceramic shield? I have an iPhone 13 and I’m having these issues without a screen cover.

 

[kriegsl]

For me, it's exactly as you describe: it's absolutely terrible on the lock screen.

Using an alphanumeric password is a nightmare, even just hitting done. The same goes for replying to an iMessage or other messengers, and with lock screen customization as well.

I uploaded a video a while ago to illustrate this. That was with my first iPhone 15 Pro Max. Now I'm on my third one, and it was the same with all of them!

In the unlocked state, I can enter my password 10 times in a row without any problem. However, the issue also reappears randomly in the unlocked state, where it's remarkably bad at times, exactly the same as on the lock screen. But it's definitely more frequent on the lock screen.

I have sent 13 feedbacks to Apple regarding this issue. I also added screenshots and videos, the idiots didn't care.
I will buy 16 Pro Max next year, I have no other choice.
Apple will not fix this problem, I don't think it's likely.