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iPhone X display not working on cold

Other people on Reddit have reported the same issue.

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/7bnann/iphone_x_screen_not_responsive_in_the_cold/

Sounds like a component, perhaps touch controller, is temperature sensitive and by locking/unlocking, the screen touch controller is reset and the problem is temporarily cleared up. Or, possibly the cold weather is causing the battery voltage output to drop below threshold where things start to malfunction.

iPhones back to the 4S have historically not fared well in cold weather and tend to shut down prematurely.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/249134/sub_zero_weather_can_your_smartphone_stand_the_cold_.html
 
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chfilm said:
Yes!!!
It’s just been 6 degrees today in Germany and the same happened! Touch didn’t get recognized properly!
I could barely type a message or scroll properly even..

And I thought it was just me.. what to do?
Click to expand...

Try to lock + unlock the device when the problem occurs. Works for me.
 
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Newtons Apple said:
I hope not either. Just make sure she understand that the phone needs to be kept close to her when super cold. Apple say nothing below 32 degrees. Most people prefer to be warm so this is not that big of an issue . . . . We hope.
Click to expand...

I think those recommend temps are due to avoidance of condensation. Every phone I had (including all iPhones) worked fine even in single digit temps. But of course I never used my phones out below freezing temps for long periods of time.
 
I had this Problem too - At perhaps 6-9 degree (Germany)

But it is not the whole screen, would say the lower 1/4? And it isnt constantly, so in like 50% it still works.

So far i only noticed it while browsing, so no idea how its working while typing...

Would suck to send the phone in...


Family name:
Group1: iPhone
Group2: X
Generation:
Colour: Space Gray
Production week : -42- (October)
Production year : -2017-
Model introduced: -2017-
Capacity: 256GB
Memory - flavour: Soldered
Factory: F1 (China, Zhengzhou - Foxconn)
 
mi7chy said:
Sounds like a component, perhaps touch controller, is temperature sensitive and by locking/unlocking, the screen touch controller is reset and the problem is temporarily cleared up. Or, possibly the cold weather is causing the battery voltage output to drop below threshold where things start to malfunction.
Click to expand...

Though not writing off the OLED, a response that makes sense.

Speculation: wonder if having a glass back might be a contributing issue re: insulating properties? And the wireless charging coil? You wouldn't think so, especially under short-term exposure to cold ala walking from office to the car.
 
Newtons Apple said:
Sounds like the X screen is even more susceptible to colder temps. Must be an OLED thing.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be an OLED thing because OLED has a wider operating temperature at about -40C to 85C compared to -20C to 70C for TFT LCD.

Page 11
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~mobile/elec518/readings/display/4D_AMOLED_Presentation.pdf

It'll be down to either touch layer, touch controller or battery output voltage. If the problem is consistent across the whole screen then it'll likely be the touch controller or battery output voltage. If it's only the lower 1/3 of the display that some are reporting then it's probably the touch layer.

Battery output voltage should be easy to rule out by connecting a sizable external supplemental power pack.
 
Last edited:
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iPhone X, 256GB.

Just did a test in the cold (Minnesota). Left it outside for 45 minutes at 17F (-8C) ambient.

FaceID works fine, keyboard response is as fast as when warm.

Dare I say the screen responds BETTER than my old iPhones?! All my old phones always had “slow” screens when cold-soaked. Like a second of what looks like burn-in while the displays changes. Maybe just need to get it colder (lower temps and longer soak times)? I’ll test more tonight.
 
flxwitte said:
I had this Problem too - At perhaps 6-9 degree (Germany)

But it is not the whole screen, would say the lower 1/4? And it isnt constantly, so in like 50% it still works.

So far i only noticed it while browsing, so no idea how its working while typing...

Would suck to send the phone in...


Family name:
Group1: iPhone
Group2: X
Generation:
Colour: Space Gray
Production week : -42- (October)
Production year : -2017-
Model introduced: -2017-
Capacity: 256GB
Memory - flavour: Soldered
Factory: F1 (China, Zhengzhou - Foxconn)
Click to expand...

I've seen a lot of week 42 but different factories.
Mine is:
Family name:
Group1: iPhone
Group2: X
Generation:
Colour: Black
Production week : -42- (October)
Production year : -2017-
Model introduced: -2017-
Capacity: 64GB
Memory - flavour: Soldered
Factory: DN (China, Chengdu - Foxconn)
 
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