Apple’s newly launched iPhone 18 Pro series is facing online reports of display problems, but some of the viral claims appear to be misleading, while a separate Face ID-related software bug has been acknowledged as a genuine issue.
Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo on September 9, with the new models going on sale on September 18.
Soon after the launch, posts on social media claimed that some iPhone 18 Pro devices were developing pink and green vertical lines across their displays. Videos shared on X showed a burgundy iPhone with a pink line and another device apparently displaying a thick green line.
However, users quickly raised questions about the authenticity of some of the footage. In one video, the green line appeared behind the Wi-Fi icon, suggesting that it may have been digitally added rather than caused by a physical display fault. The unusual appearance and thinness of the line also raised further doubts about the claim.
Another video showing a pink line appears more credible, but there is currently no indication that the problem is widespread. It is also unclear whether the device shown had suffered an accidental drop or other physical damage.
The more significant issue involves Face ID. Some iPhone 18 Pro owners have reported problems when using Face ID to unlock applications and protected content. In certain cases, a failed Face ID attempt followed by another authentication attempt can cause the device to freeze and restart.
Users have also reported seeing a “Face ID not available” message during setup and problems with the “Require Attention for Face ID” setting.
Apple has reportedly confirmed that the reboot problem is software-related rather than a hardware defect. Analytics data from affected devices reportedly shows a “panic-full” critical error immediately before the unexpected restart.
The company is expected to address the problem through an upcoming iOS software update. Apple has reassured affected users that they should not need to visit a retail store for a hardware repair if the issue is caused by the software bug.
Until the update arrives, users whose devices become unresponsive can perform a forced restart by quickly pressing and releasing the volume up button, followed by the volume down button, and then holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.
While the viral display-line reports should be treated cautiously, the Face ID-related freezing and reboot issue appears to be the more concrete concern for some early iPhone 18 Pro users.
