It was pointed out that there was a problem with the mobile phone five days after Apple started updating the iPhone operating system iOS 18.4.1 that recommended installation. There are also cases in which it has become a so-called “brick phone” that cannot be used at all.
On the 22nd, IT media Phone Arena reported, “It has been claimed that the iPhone has become a ‘brick’ since the installation of iOS 18.4.1.” The user claims that the device’s unique identification number (IMEI) cannot be recognized after installing the update.
After experiencing the problem, he also visited the Apple service center, but the service center’s representative informed him that he needed to replace the main board, which costs 80% of the iPhone price, so he ended up not using his mobile phone.
Usually, when the IMEI or modem firmware information of the iPhone is not searched, it occurs when a problem occurs with the modem installed on the motherboard. In order to solve this problem, the modem needs to be repaired by disassembling the main board.
“It seems unlikely that the iOS update caused problems with the modem, but there were cases where some iPads became ‘bricks’ after installing the previous iPadOS update,” Phone Arena said. “The modem of the device that caused the problem may have been defective, and the update may have caused this problem.”
Earlier in September last year, Apple stopped distributing updates due to a “brick phenomenon” on iPads 11 and 13 equipped with M4 chipsets after distributing iPadOS 18. The domestic iPhone-related community is also raising problems such as the iPhone’s heat generation getting worse or the battery consumption getting faster after the installation of iOS 18.4.1.
“In addition to the cases, there are people who complain that they have experienced similar problems,” von Arena said. “It would be better to turn off automatic updates for the time being.”
On the 17th, Apple started distributing iOS 18.4.1, the latest version of the iPhone operating system. Apple has recommended a quick installation of the OS by fixing bugs and resolving security vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics also updated its One UI, which suspended the update for two weeks and recently resumed after problems such as some users’ lock screens were not released.
