On some early iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units, a failed Face ID scan could freeze the phone and force a restart, and an iOS 27 gesture bug could leave the screen ignoring touch. Apple fixed both in iOS 27.0.1 on 28 September, so an updated phone is very probably fine.
What actually launched, and what did not
Apple held its “Surprise and Shine” event on 9 September 2026 and announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, plus the foldable iPhone Duo. The plain iPhone 18 did not turn up. It is expected in spring 2027, with an iPhone 18e and an iPhone Air 2 also rumoured for then.
Pre-orders opened on 12 September and the phones went on sale on 18 September. UK prices start at around £1,199 for the 18 Pro and £1,299 for the 18 Pro Max, both 256GB and both about £100 up on last year's Pro models. In the US, Apple lists them from $1,199 and $1,299. Same numbers, different symbol. For that money, Face ID should work first time. Mostly, it does.
The two bugs: who reproduced them and who was hit
Within days, owners reported two related problems on some units, not all. That matters, because “some phones have a bug” and “the phone is broken” are different headlines.
Bug one: the Face ID freeze. If Face ID failed while unlocking a protected app (Passwords, Apple Wallet, private Safari tabs or any biometric-locked app), the phone could freeze, ignore touch, then panic-restart. It did not appear to trigger from the normal lock screen. 9to5Mac reproduced it on a European iPhone 18 Pro by covering the face and retrying Face ID. A Reddit thread, picked up by Macworld, had 22 of 24 replies reporting the same or similar behaviour. Panic logs showed up in Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data.
A sceptic's note: 22 of 24 is not a failure rate. People whose phones crash reply to threads about crashing phones. People whose phones work are busy using them.
Bug two: the unresponsive screen. Touchscreens sometimes stopped responding. Some cases were the Face ID freeze in a different hat. Others may be an iOS 27 gesture bug from pulling down Notification Center and Control Center at once, which is not unique to the 18 Pro. Screen protectors were also suspected in a few reports. Never underestimate cheap plastic's power to humble a £1,199 phone.
The 18 Pro moves the Face ID infrared camera under the display and shrinks the Dynamic Island, so early coverage wondered if that hardware was at fault. Apple told 9to5Mac it was a software issue.
What Apple did, and what iOS 27.0.1 fixes
Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac that a fix was coming, and iOS 27.0.1 shipped on 28 September 2026. Apple's iOS 27.0.1 release notes, also covered by Macworld and 9to5Mac, list three fixes:
- restarts on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max when Face ID fails to authenticate
- a frozen touchscreen after opening Notification Center and Control Center together
- a colour artefact on some 2x photos taken at f/1.48 in certain light
Some Apple support staff initially suggested hardware swaps. For the Face ID freeze, that was unnecessary once 27.0.1 shipped. Swapping a phone to fix a software bug is like moving house because the kettle tripped the fuse.
What is still unverified: the screen lines
Separate, weaker reports describe green or pink lines on the display, which some outlets have treated as a possible hardware fault that 27.0.1 does not fix. The evidence is anecdotal, not a confirmed mass defect. If lines persist after the update, get the unit checked.
Then there is a TikTok from @starnewsdaily2, styled like a TV news desk, with “The Palki Sharma Show” branding and the caption “iPhone 18 Pro: Apple's Rotten Apple Launch”. It repeats the freeze, restart, unresponsive screen, Face ID and coloured-line claims and calls the phone a rotten Apple. It is a sensational rewrite of real early reports, not original reporting, and the nickname is not a documented, widespread customer label. A news desk backdrop does not make something news, in the same way a stethoscope does not make me your GP.
Already own one? Do this
About ten minutes, no cost:
- Install iOS 27.0.1. Settings > General > Software Update.
- Test Face ID on a locked app. Open Passwords or another locked app, cover your face so the scan fails, then retry. If nothing freezes, the fix is working.
- Check Analytics Data for panic logs. Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data. Old panic entries are expected. New ones are worth noting.
- Contact Apple only if lines or freezes continue after the update. Record a short video first: support moves faster with evidence than adjectives. Patchy touch with a screen protector on? Try without it first.
The verdict
The early Pro bugs were real. Owners did not imagine the freezes. “The launch failed” was not true. Apple shipped a nasty bug in one Face ID path and patched it ten days after sale. That is not a scandal. It is a normal week in software, with a higher entry fee.
Best IPTV boxes to buy
These are certified Android TV / Google TV media boxes and sticks that can run players and licensed apps from Google Play. They are not pirate hardware. They do not come with channels or playlists. I am not claiming I personally lab-tested every SKU this month.
Buy one of these when: Fire TV sideload is a hassle on your model, you want Play Store apps on a proper TV OS, or you want a dedicated player shell behind the sofa. No Fire Stick is on this shortlist.
- NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro: the premium pick, a certified Android TV player with AI upscaling, Dolby Vision/Atmos and Gigabit Ethernet for the main living-room telly. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Google TV Streamer 4K: solid Google TV living-room default with Ethernet, 32GB storage and Dolby Vision/Atmos. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen): Google TV box with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos, the cheaper box route than the Streamer. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen): budget Google TV stick with Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos when you want HDMI-simple, not a full box. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Strong LEAP-NOVA: Google TV certified 4K stick on Android 14 with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision, for a second telly. Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- MECOOL MEon1: Google TV certified 4K box with AI upscaling and 32GB storage for a dedicated player behind the sofa. Amazon UK
Still a Fire Stick shopper? Fine for Amazon Video and the Appstore universe. Not the shortlist above. And none of these boxes magically make unlicensed streams legal.
Featured image: iPhone 18 Pro, Apple press image via Apple Newsroom. Image credit: Apple. Resized, husham.com stamp added. No endorsement by Apple.
Editor's note: this piece was checked against reports from 21 to 28 September 2026.
Written by Dr Husham Memar
