While some of these early day-one issues have been swiftly addressed through software patches, others continue to linger, casting a shadow over what is typically a seamless consumer experience for Apple’s annual hardware refreshes. Industry experts and early adopters have flagged several notable problems affecting the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Although these issues do not diminish the underlying capabilities of the devices—nor are they intended to discourage potential buyers from making a purchase—they highlight the complex challenges involved in launching highly sophisticated consumer electronics at a massive global scale.
As early user reports continue to roll in across online forums and technology news outlets, four major problems have emerged as central talking points surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max launch window.
iPhone 18 Pros Were Randomly Rebooting
The earliest widespread issue reported following the release of the iPhone 18 Pro involved random, unexpected reboots. Users quickly took to social media and support forums to complain that their new devices would inexplicably freeze up following a failed Face ID authentication attempt. After hanging for a brief period, the smartphones would automatically force a reboot, disrupting normal usage.
Curiously, this phenomenon was not entirely isolated to the smartphone lineup. Apple’s newly released Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 exhibited remarkably similar reboot behaviors under comparable circumstances. Because both the newest iPhones and Apple Watches run on fresh software platforms—iOS 27 and watchOS 27, respectively—it became immediately clear that the root cause was a software bug rather than a widespread structural hardware failure.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Apple moved quickly to deploy corrective software patches. The company released iOS 27.0.1 and watchOS 27.0.1, featuring focused release notes specifically addressing the reboot glitches. For the vast majority of users, these updates successfully resolved the unexpected crashing behavior, restoring normal stability to their devices.
iPhone 18 Pro Max Might Not Be Able to Dial 911
While Apple’s official documentation for iOS 27.0.1 framed the update narrowly around the Face ID reboot glitch, major telecommunications providers offered a much more urgent perspective. Major carrier AT&T issued automated alerts to its subscribers using the iPhone 18 Pro Max, strongly advising them to apply the latest software update immediately to avoid a potentially dangerous communication failure.
According to AT&T’s warning messages sent to customers, certain iPhone 18 Pro Max units faced a critical bug that could render them temporarily incapable of completing phone calls, sending text messages, or connecting to cellular data networks. Most alarmingly, the carrier warned that the software defect could even prevent users from successfully dialing emergency services such as 911 during a crisis. The text message alert urged customers to navigate to their settings menu and install iOS 27.0.1 immediately.
Intriguingly, user reports and subsequent analysis indicate that standard iPhone 18 Pro users were not included in AT&T’s emergency alert warnings. Industry analysts and tech publications like MacRumors have speculated that the issue may be tied directly to the specific internal modem hardware used in the larger model. The iPhone 18 Pro Max stands out as the only new flagship iPhone this year to ship with a Qualcomm cellular modem rather than Apple’s proprietary C2 modem. Affected users experienced severe signal drops, frequently forcing their devices into emergency SOS mode until the software patch was installed.
Some iPhone 18 Pros Have a Cracking or Popping Noise
Beyond connectivity and reboot concerns, a subset of early adopters have reported dealing with strange audio anomalies. Owners of both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have described intermittent "cracking" or "popping" noises originating from the devices’ internal speakers.
In online discussions, users compared the unexpected sound to the distinct acoustic artifact produced when pulling an analog auxiliary cable out of a traditional headphone jack. Further elaboration from community members revealed varying manifestations of the audio bug: some users experienced a subtle buzzing sound when pushing their speaker volume to the maximum limit, while others noted distinct crackling sounds specifically during voice calls utilizing mono speaker settings.
Interestingly, applying Apple’s iOS 27.0.1 software update did not appear to resolve the audio issue for everyone experiencing it, suggesting a more stubborn underlying factor. However, the problem does not appear to be universal. While dedicated online forums have accumulated numerous complaints from affected owners, other users—including multiple reporters at technology publication Mashable—noted that their review units remained completely free of any popping or cracking sounds. Adding to the mystery, some long-time Apple users reported encountering similar audio crackling behavior on older hardware, such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, only after updating their operating systems to iOS 27.
Some iPhone 18 Pros Are Already Losing Their Color
Physical durability concerns have also entered the conversation surrounding the new hardware generation. As highlighted in recent reports by Mashable, a number of consumers have noticed that the colored exterior finish on certain iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units is beginning to wear away prematurely, with the most noticeable wear concentrated around the protruding camera lenses.
Thus far, the vast majority of these aesthetic complaints appear concentrated among buyers who opted for the darker burgundy and black colorways of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The exact prevalence of this cosmetic wear remains unclear, as Apple has not yet released an official statement regarding the reports. Consumer responses to the issue have varied significantly; some users have reported that the perceived discoloration was merely surface grime that could be successfully cleaned away using a cotton swab, while others insisted that the physical anodized or PVD coating on the chassis had genuinely eroded or flaked off from normal handling and pocket friction.
As Apple monitors these early user experiences, the company is expected to address lingering hardware and software concerns through subsequent software updates and standard warranty support channels for affected consumers.
