iPhone 16 Pro Max Touch issues with 16 Pro / Pro Max display

[vinegarshots]

In my opinion, testing six phones is enough to make sure that it is a common problem

Didn’t answer my question. Instead of subjective opinion, there is an objective test that you can use. If a phone is missing touches, then it won’t pass that test. If it’s not, then it will. Did you try it at all? What were your results?

The funny thing is that if there is any issue with my own screen, it’s almost TOO sensitive at times and activates things I don’t want to activate with just the slightest misplaced tap or finger brushing past the screen 🙃

 

[ExploRichie]

I hope that everyone is giving feedback to apple for the sensitivity issue on the 16 Pro Max with screen protector.

Feedback - iPhone

Apple wants to hear from you. Send us your comments and feedback about iPhone.

www.apple.com

 

[SmOgER]

After reading many pages of this thread it seems like mostly Pro Max affected by this issue. So is that true that regular Pro model has no problems?

I think it’s mainly people that use screen protector. Perhaps more with pro max but not limited to it. If you go case-less then you can also confuse yourself into thinking there’s a problem (especially after reading this thread lol) when you’re actually causing them yourself with double inputs due to slim bezels.

My understanding is that there was a minor touch sensitivity issue with earlier phones (which may or may not be fixed with software) while screen protector exaggerates this and makes it act like a definitively defective phone.

 

[ExploRichie]

The issue only occurs with screen protector on my 16 Pro Max. Without screen protector it is like every pevious iPhone I had …

Because of that all of you send feedback to apple to tell them about this issue.

Feedback - iPhone

Apple wants to hear from you. Send us your comments and feedback about iPhone.

www.apple.com

 

[Amirrock]

Didn’t answer my question. Instead of subjective opinion, there is an objective test that you can use. If a phone is missing touches, then it won’t pass that test. If it’s not, then it will. Did you try it at all? What were your results?

The funny thing is that if there is any issue with my own screen, it’s almost TOO sensitive at times and activates things I don’t want to activate with just the slightest misplaced tap or finger brushing past the screen 🙃

Everything is fine here, but the problem still remains in some touches

 

[vinegarshots]

Everything is fine here, but the problem still remains in some touches

You're supposed to clear every single box on the screen, not just the ones on the edges. You left 60% of the screen untested 🤣

And if you can clear all ~200 boxes with a single tap, first try, and especially if you complete the full test multiple times, then your phone is working fine, and you're probably just dealing with a buggy application instead.

BTW, this is nearly identical to the official screen diagnostic test that Apple uses if you bring your phone to the Genius Bar for touch screen issues. If the Apple tech fills in all the boxes on their test, they declare your screen to be problem-free and send you on your way...

 

[ahmede]

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You're supposed to clear every single box on the screen, not just the ones on the edges. You left [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]% of the screen untested

And if you can clear all ~[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]] boxes with a single tap, first try, and especially if you complete the full test multiple times, then your phone is working fine, and you're probably just dealing with a buggy application instead.

BTW, this is nearly identical to the official screen diagnostic test that Apple uses if you bring your phone to the Genius Bar for touch screen issues. If the Apple tech fills in all the boxes on their test, they declare your screen to be problem-free and send you on your way...

In my instance the Apple tech "missed " a few spots while swiping the screen.
Then went over those spots with a second swipe / tap
Test reported as no defects

Is this normal for areas to go undetected on the first swipe ?

 

[Amirrock]

You're supposed to clear every single box on the screen, not just the ones on the edges. You left 60% of the screen untested 🤣

And if you can clear all ~200 boxes with a single tap, first try, and especially if you complete the full test multiple times, then your phone is working fine, and you're probably just dealing with a buggy application instead.

BTW, this is nearly identical to the official screen diagnostic test that Apple uses if you bring your phone to the Genius Bar for touch screen issues. If the Apple tech fills in all the boxes on their test, they declare your screen to be problem-free and send you on your way...

You didn't understand at all that the problem with the iPhone 16 Max crown is only on the sides, that's why I only tested the sides, I tested it again, this time the phone was on the table and it didn't work well.

 

[SmOgER]

You didn't understand at all that the problem with the iPhone 16 Max crown is only on the sides, that's why I only tested the sides, I tested it again, this time the phone was on the table and it didn't work well.

I tested some early 16PM at the store today on this website. Interestingly I could reproduce the issue with some (a few) touches along the edges getting missed. But I’m not able to tell definitively from this if it wasn’t because of the slim bezels (double inputs). it is worth mentioning however that I got better results doing this on my own 16P, caseless and holding it in my hand as well.

 

[joedajoester]

Has anybody replaced their phone and got a device with better touch response with a protector on? My device is launch day and horrible with touch. I have to slam my fingers when typing otherwise it misses a lot.

 

[viet.nasu]

You're supposed to clear every single box on the screen, not just the ones on the edges. You left 60% of the screen untested 🤣

And if you can clear all ~200 boxes with a single tap, first try, and especially if you complete the full test multiple times, then your phone is working fine, and you're probably just dealing with a buggy application instead.

BTW, this is nearly identical to the official screen diagnostic test that Apple uses if you bring your phone to the Genius Bar for touch screen issues. If the Apple tech fills in all the boxes on their test, they declare your screen to be problem-free and send you on your way...

The Apple technician's screen diagnostic test will absolutely not detect the errors we are having here. They just touch 1 point and then swipe all over the screen. If it is not ok, they continue to swipe, if it is not filled up the screen, they continue to swipe with more force. If tested that way, 100% of our 16 PM phones here will complete the test without any problems.
The problem we are having here is that random touches are missed and especially touches with lighter force are very easy to miss. The Apple technician has absolutely no test to detect that error.
I told him that he should test by touching each cell, he replied to me with a smile.

 

[MagneticResonance]

Has anybody replaced their phone and got a device with better touch response with a protector on? My device is launch day and horrible with touch. I have to slam my fingers when typing otherwise it misses a lot.

I changed my phone of dayone. It was very ****.
The second is a little bit good but same problem, changed screen.
About 15days ago in ac plus i payed 100euros for change, and this it seems better but it losts touch.
For me the good is battery built dicember.
Now I use hydrogel protection is very thin.
But it losts always a few touch.

 

[quents]

Back at the end of October, I returned the iPhone 16 Pro Max three times in a row, thinking the issue was specific to my unit. But when I experienced the same problem on my fourth device, I realized this was affecting all 16 Pro Max models and decided to just stick with what I had. Three out of the four phones I tried had different display hardware codes (two LG, one Samsung).

The issue only happens when a screen protector is applied—most light touches simply don’t register. No software update has fixed it so far (currently on 18.3.1). I’ve been trying to ignore it and have adjusted by pressing harder than usual, but every time an update drops, I get my hopes up, thinking it might finally be resolved. Unfortunately, no luck so far.

I’m convinced this affects all iPhone 16 Pro Max models, but not everyone notices it due to different usage styles. I’ve tested four different screen protectors—one wasn’t tempered glass but one of those "nano" types. Since it was thinner, it helped improve touch sensitivity quite a bit, but very light touches were still inconsistent. In the end, I went back to a tempered glass protector for better durability.

I still can’t tell if this is a hardware or software issue. Coming from an iPhone 13, this has been a huge disappointment for me. At this point, I’m just waiting for the next-gen iPhone, and when it comes out, I definitely won’t be in a rush to upgrade.

 

[MagneticResonance]

Back at the end of October, I returned the iPhone 16 Pro Max three times in a row, thinking the issue was specific to my unit. But when I experienced the same problem on my fourth device, I realized this was affecting all 16 Pro Max models and decided to just stick with what I had. Three out of the four phones I tried had different display hardware codes (two LG, one Samsung).

The issue only happens when a screen protector is applied—most light touches simply don’t register. No software update has fixed it so far (currently on 18.3.1). I’ve been trying to ignore it and have adjusted by pressing harder than usual, but every time an update drops, I get my hopes up, thinking it might finally be resolved. Unfortunately, no luck so far.

I’m convinced this affects all iPhone 16 Pro Max models, but not everyone notices it due to different usage styles. I’ve tested four different screen protectors—one wasn’t tempered glass but one of those "nano" types. Since it was thinner, it helped improve touch sensitivity quite a bit, but very light touches were still inconsistent. In the end, I went back to a tempered glass protector for better durability.

I still can’t tell if this is a hardware or software issue. Coming from an iPhone 13, this has been a huge disappointment for me. At this point, I’m just waiting for the next-gen iPhone, and when it comes out, I definitely won’t be in a rush to upgrade.

I trust that some units from july to november battery built have this problem.
Also without screen some light taps losts it.
Happens

 

[ExploRichie]

Back at the end of October, I returned the iPhone 16 Pro Max three times in a row, thinking the issue was specific to my unit. But when I experienced the same problem on my fourth device, I realized this was affecting all 16 Pro Max models and decided to just stick with what I had. Three out of the four phones I tried had different display hardware codes (two LG, one Samsung).

The issue only happens when a screen protector is applied—most light touches simply don’t register. No software update has fixed it so far (currently on 18.3.1). I’ve been trying to ignore it and have adjusted by pressing harder than usual, but every time an update drops, I get my hopes up, thinking it might finally be resolved. Unfortunately, no luck so far.

I’m convinced this affects all iPhone 16 Pro Max models, but not everyone notices it due to different usage styles. I’ve tested four different screen protectors—one wasn’t tempered glass but one of those "nano" types. Since it was thinner, it helped improve touch sensitivity quite a bit, but very light touches were still inconsistent. In the end, I went back to a tempered glass protector for better durability.

I still can’t tell if this is a hardware or software issue. Coming from an iPhone 13, this has been a huge disappointment for me. At this point, I’m just waiting for the next-gen iPhone, and when it comes out, I definitely won’t be in a rush to upgrade.

Please call apple support and tell them about this!!! 🙏🙏

 

[vinegarshots]

Back at the end of October, I returned the iPhone 16 Pro Max three times in a row, thinking the issue was specific to my unit. But when I experienced the same problem on my fourth device, I realized this was affecting all 16 Pro Max models and decided to just stick with what I had. Three out of the four phones I tried had different display hardware codes (two LG, one Samsung).

The issue only happens when a screen protector is applied—most light touches simply don’t register. No software update has fixed it so far (currently on 18.3.1). I’ve been trying to ignore it and have adjusted by pressing harder than usual, but every time an update drops, I get my hopes up, thinking it might finally be resolved. Unfortunately, no luck so far.

I’m convinced this affects all iPhone 16 Pro Max models, but not everyone notices it due to different usage styles. I’ve tested four different screen protectors—one wasn’t tempered glass but one of those "nano" types. Since it was thinner, it helped improve touch sensitivity quite a bit, but very light touches were still inconsistent. In the end, I went back to a tempered glass protector for better durability.

I still can’t tell if this is a hardware or software issue. Coming from an iPhone 13, this has been a huge disappointment for me. At this point, I’m just waiting for the next-gen iPhone, and when it comes out, I definitely won’t be in a rush to upgrade.

I think there are a few different scenarios going on that people aren't able to differentiate between, which makes this a lot more messy.

1) Phones with a touchscreen that is legitimately glitching out all of the time, regardless of apps or how the phone is held.
2) Phones with a touchscreen that works correctly, but certain apps are buggy and don't respond as expected on certain UI elements, making people think their touchscreen isn't working right
3) People holding their phone with a grip that causes parts of their palm or other fingers to rest along the edges of the display, which can activate the touchscreen due to the smaller bezels and randomly interferes with touches

With my two 15 Pro Max units with a faulty touchscreen that wouldn't let you pull down the notification window 50% of the time, I tested 2 or 3 additional phones on display in BestBuy that had the exact same issue. That's FIVE phones I tested. My first instinct was to say that ALL of the 15 Pro Max had that issue, and it was just that most people didn't notice it. I assumed it surely had to be a software bug that would be fixed. Ended up that none of those assumptions were right, and somehow there were apparently just a lot of units that had that issue, but not enough to cause issues with the majority of the millions of iphones in use. Never was fixed. I still have one of those phones and it still has the same problem, even with the latest iOS installed. And I submitted bug reports for it multiple times, over and over again.

All I can say (which I've said a million times already in this thread), with 100% certainty, is that my 16 Pro Max has no issues with the touchscreen at all. None naked, and none with a screen protector applied.

 

[MagneticResonance]

I think there are a few different scenarios going on that people aren't able to differentiate between, which makes this a lot more messy.

1) Phones with a touchscreen that is legitimately glitching out all of the time, regardless of apps or how the phone is held.
2) Phones with a touchscreen that works correctly, but certain apps are buggy and don't respond as expected on certain UI elements, making people think their touchscreen isn't working right
3) People holding their phone with a grip that causes parts of their palm or other fingers to rest along the edges of the display, which can activate the touchscreen due to the smaller bezels and randomly interferes with touches

With my two 15 Pro Max units with a faulty touchscreen that wouldn't let you pull down the notification window 50% of the time, I tested 2 or 3 additional phones on display in BestBuy that had the exact same issue. That's FIVE phones I tested. My first instinct was to say that ALL of the 15 Pro Max had that issue, and it was just that most people didn't notice it. I assumed it surely had to be a software bug that would be fixed. Ended up that none of those assumptions were right, and somehow there were apparently just a lot of units that had that issue, but not enough to cause issues with the majority of the millions of iphones in use. Never was fixed. I still have one of those phones and it still has the same problem, even with the latest iOS installed. And I submitted bug reports for it multiple times, over and over again.

All I can say (which I've said a million times already in this thread), with 100% certainty, is that my 16 Pro Max has no issues with the touchscreen at all. None naked, and none with a screen protector applied.

Which month is your battery built?

 

[SmOgER]

Back at the end of October, I returned the iPhone 16 Pro Max three times in a row, thinking the issue was specific to my unit. But when I experienced the same problem on my fourth device, I realized this was affecting all 16 Pro Max models and decided to just stick with what I had. Three out of the four phones I tried had different display hardware codes (two LG, one Samsung).

The issue only happens when a screen protector is applied—most light touches simply don’t register. No software update has fixed it so far (currently on 18.3.1). I’ve been trying to ignore it and have adjusted by pressing harder than usual, but every time an update drops, I get my hopes up, thinking it might finally be resolved. Unfortunately, no luck so far.

I’m convinced this affects all iPhone 16 Pro Max models, but not everyone notices it due to different usage styles. I’ve tested four different screen protectors—one wasn’t tempered glass but one of those "nano" types. Since it was thinner, it helped improve touch sensitivity quite a bit, but very light touches were still inconsistent. In the end, I went back to a tempered glass protector for better durability.

I still can’t tell if this is a hardware or software issue. Coming from an iPhone 13, this has been a huge disappointment for me. At this point, I’m just waiting for the next-gen iPhone, and when it comes out, I definitely won’t be in a rush to upgrade.

Just lose the screen protector. I dont understand the persistence to have it on. The screen as is is very hard to scratch and no screen protector is gonna effectively protect it from cracking on impact. Get insurance or apple care if you are worried about it. If that’s not an option and you still want protection then put on a case.

I personally do not have a case nor protector and just got an insurance for the peace of mind but not out of necessity - my phones tend to last with just basic care. Never understood how people manage to damage every part of their phone from normal use lol

PS. If you think screen protector scratches mean it protected your screen from damage that’s totally not the case. These flimsy things are way softer and less durable than the actual screen.

 

[viet.nasu]

Just lose the screen protector. I dont understand the persistence to have it on. The screen as is is very hard to scratch and no screen protector is gonna effectively protect it from cracking on impact. Get insurance or apple care if you are worried about it. If that’s not an option and you still want protection then put on a case.

I personally do not have a case nor protector and just got an insurance for the peace of mind but not out of necessity - my phones tend to last with just basic care. Never understood how people manage to damage every part of their phone from normal use lol

PS. If you think screen protector scratches mean it protected your screen from damage that’s totally not the case. These flimsy things are way softer and less durable than the actual screen.

I'm not afraid of the screen being scratched, but I'm afraid of the screen losing its anti-stick coating on the surface. Then it will easily get dirty and it's very difficult to clean even with a towel on hand.
I apply a screen protector and the protector loses its anti-stick coating after a period of use, I just need to replace it with another protector.

 

[gegé.98]

Hello everyone. My iPhone 16 pro has not detected any sim since yesterday, it remains in SOS mode. This morning the courier picked up the iPhone and it will go for assistance. In addition to the problems already reported by you (graphic glitches, slowdowns and sudden reboots) has a similar situation already happened to any of you?

 

[Cobalt Blizzard]

So, got my 16 Pro few days ago, tested light taps and it was perfect.

Yesterday I’ve installed Torras screen protector (which one of thickest out there I think), now sometimes I miss light taps… However outside of this test I don’t feel any issues. No missed taps, keyboard works just fine, swipes etc. are all fine.

Battery manufacturing date is October 2024.

 

[joedajoester]

So, got my 16 Pro few days ago, tested light taps and it was perfect.

Yesterday I’ve installed Torras screen protector (which one of thickest out there I think), now sometimes I miss light taps… However outside of this test I don’t feel any issues. No missed taps, keyboard works just fine, swipes etc. are all fine.

Battery manufacturing date is October 2024.

That sounds like you have the exact issue many of us here are having. Light taps are ignored when using a screen protector.
It doesn’t sound that bad but there’s situations where it is noticeable. When I am typing fast I can make very light presses like I would with any other phone. And this one just misses them… I have an old android phone that is far more sensitive than this phone is. This is not ok.

Try the same light taps but on the Dynamic Island. The result will be no missed taps. The island area is super super sensitive to touch like any previous iPhone. The rest of the display is not

 

[jabroni4ever]

Hi everybody, I just registerd only for one important question I have. So it would be nice to get an answer from you I want to use the phone without screen protector. Do I get it right that the problem occurs only with applied screen protectors and never happens without one?

 

[makoru]

Hi everybody, I just registerd only for one important question I have. So it would be nice to get an answer from you I want to use the phone without screen protector. Do I get it right that the problem occurs only with applied screen protectors and never happens without one?

Indeed, I had the 16 Pro Max and without a screen protector it worked 99.9% perfectly. With protector many touches were lost. I returned it and bought a 16 Pro, which I used with a screen protector a couple of weeks ago without any problem. Zero.

 

[SmOgER]

I'm not afraid of the screen being scratched, but I'm afraid of the screen losing its anti-stick coating on the surface. Then it will easily get dirty and it's very difficult to clean even with a towel on hand.
I apply a screen protector and the protector loses its anti-stick coating after a period of use, I just need to replace it with another protector.

I think that would be more of an issue with 3rd party replacement screens and otherwise only a potential issue after years of hard use. There’s also another side to look at it is that what’s the point of that coating anyway if you only ever gonna use your phone with screen protector. Might as well only do this after it wears off.

Point taken though, didn’t think about this aspect of it.