iOS 17.0.3 fixes the overheating problem on the iPhone 15 Pros. On other iPhones, the update patches vulnerabilities in the kernel and WebRTC.
Apple claims in the release notes for iOS 17.0.3 that the update fixes the overheating issues plaguing some iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max units.
The software update with build number 21A360 also includes a pair of security fixes for vulnerabilities in the kernel and WebRTC, one of which hackers might have already exploited. The same security patches are included in the iPadOS 17.0.3 update, which Apple released alongside iOS 17.0.3 on October 4, 2023.
Does iOS 17.0.3 fix overheating on the iPhone 15 Pros?
To install iOS and iPadOS 17.0.3 on your iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the onscreen instructions. According to Apple, the update provides “important bug fixes, security updates, and addresses an issue that may cause iPhone to run warmer than expected.”
Apple said earlier it wouldn’t solve this by throttling the A17 Pro chip. We’ll soon know if iOS 17.0.3 fixes heat dissipation. Meanwhile, those concerned about overheating should check our tips for how to keep an iPhone from getting too hot.
The Cupertino company attributed the overheating problem to post-install processes like Spotlight and Photos re-indexing, bugs in popular third-party apps like Instagram and Uber, and an unspecified bug in iOS.
Apple denied speculation that the new titanium frame exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pros might be the culprit. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier that the overheating problem stems from “compromises made in the thermal system design.”
Security fixes in iOS 17.0.3
Both iOS and iPadOS 17.0.3 also include two security patches for vulnerabilities, including one found in the system kernel that could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges. Apple fixed this issue with improved checks. The company is aware that this particular security flaw was exploited on iOS versions before iOS 16.6.
Another security issue that iOS and iPadOS 17.0.3 address is a buffer overflow problem in WebRTC that might result in arbitrary code execution. WebRTC is an open framework for the web that powers Real-Time Communications (RTC) capabilities in the browser.