Some owners of the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are experiencing sudden system crashes running iOS 27. According to user reports, the new flagship smartphone completely freezes after a failed facial recognition authentication attempt and then performs a reboot.
Focus on the New Under-Display Camera System
Apple uses a redesigned, more compact Face ID system on both top-tier models: the infrared camera is now hidden beneath the screen near the clock in the status bar. The shipping version of iOS 27 appears to have software issues tied directly to this component. Tech outlet 9to5Mac was able to reproduce the error on at least one European iPhone 18 Pro model; how many devices are affected overall remains unclear.
The trigger is particularly noteworthy: the issue does not seem to occur when simply unlocking the lock screen. Instead, the system crashes when Face ID is used to authenticate within protected apps. This includes the Passwords app, private browsing tabs in Safari, and other third-party apps secured with biometrics by the user.
How the Bug Appears in Everyday Use
The crash can be triggered intentionally: if you cover your face during a Face ID prompt inside a protected app, the initial scan fails. Tapping the retry button in the dialog prompt causes affected devices to stop responding to touch input entirely. After a few seconds, the operating system encounters a kernel panic and automatically reboots back to the lock screen.
Software Patch Expected Instead of Hardware Replacement
In user forums, one affected owner reported that Apple Support recommended replacing the new device. However, this is likely a misjudgment by customer support. Since the faulty behavior is consistently tied to the authentication prompt logic, Apple should be able to resolve the issue through a forthcoming iOS 27 software update.
Additionally, reports suggest another similar bug in iOS 27 that can cause unexpected reboots across multiple iPhone models. A patch is also expected to address that issue. Apple was asked for comment but has not yet publicly addressed the matter.
Advice for Early Buyers
Owners of an iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max do not need to exchange or send in their smartphone for now. Until a bug fix update is released, users are advised to avoid tapping the retry button directly after a failed Face ID scan in protected apps or to temporarily disable biometric locks on affected applications.
Sources: 9to5mac
