iPhone 18 Pro and new Apple Watches report crashes

Several new owners of the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12 are reporting repeated software crashes online. The problems with the iPhone 18 Pro seem to be related to Face ID facial recognition, while the exact cause of the errors on the Apple Watches is not yet clear.

Users on Reddit and Apple's support forum describe their iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max devices freezing after a failed Face ID attempt. The device may then stop responding to touch input, experience a kernel panic, and restart. However, not all devices have been affected by this issue, and some users have been unable to reproduce the error.

Speculation suggests the problem might be related to the new, smaller Face ID system with the infrared sensor now located under the display. Others believe it is more likely a software bug that Apple can fix with an update. Apple has not yet publicly commented on the matter.

Regarding the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, users are reporting random and seemingly unprovoked restarts. According to diagnostic logs, the device's Neural Engine can freeze for about two seconds, leading to a kernel panic and the device rebooting. Reports indicate this problem does not only occur in situations where the Neural Engine is typically used but can also happen when making calls, opening the App Store, or even when the device is idle.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to estimate the number of affected individuals. Some users have found success by resetting their devices to factory settings, but this has not helped everyone. Apple has also not issued an official statement regarding these Apple Watch issues. Minor technical problems at the launch of new products from the company are not uncommon.