It’s generally never a good thing when the word freeze and a tech product appear in the same sentence, but that's what happened with Apple's iPhone X — just in time for a Northeast cold snap.
Following reports that the screen on the company's $1,000 and up new iPhone X may become unresponsive when temperatures go south, Apple says it's readying a software fix.
"We are aware of instances where the iPhone X screen will become temporarily unresponsive to touch after a rapid change to a cold environment. After several seconds the screen will become fully responsive again," Apple said in a statement to USA TODAY Friday. "This will be addressed in an upcoming software update.”
Apple surely hopes the problem is not widespread, especially as the weather is just starting to get cold in large parts of the country.
More: Here comes an Arctic blast, record cold, and ... the Polar Vortex??!!
“As someone who spends a lot of time skiing, this is the deal breaker if it’s a widespread issue,” wrote a user in a thread on Reddit.
Apple's problems with the X may not end there. Some X owners posted pictures and reporting an issue on social media of a bright green line that runs down the edge of the phone’s OLED display.
USA TODAY has reached out to Apple for comment on this separate matter. Let us know if you have experienced the issue with your phone.
As for the problem with the cold, Apple’s website recommends that you should use iOS devices where the ambient temperature is between 32 and 95 degree Fahrenheit. Apple even cautions folks that using the device in very cold conditions could shorten battery life and cause the device to turn off.
Samsung lists a similar recommended temperature range for its phones.
The weather in the New York City area where I live hasn't gotten cold enough yet for me to notice the problem on my X but with temperatures expected to drop this weekend I'll see if I too experience any issues.
Consumers were able to get their hands on the iPhone X starting last Friday. By the end of the first weekend the X was sold out in 20 big cities. Apple's website is currently listing the phone as being on back order by three to four weeks.
The new phone breaks new ground for Apple. It’s the first to crack $1,000, the first to rely on Face ID facial recognition and the first to ditch the home button.
Email: ebaig@usatoday.com; Follow USA TODAY Personal Tech Columnist @edbaig on Twitter
