iPhone 16 Pro users are facing touchscreen issues
Users online report touchscreen issues on the iPhone 16 Pro. The phone appears to fail to register some swipes and taps, which significantly impacts functionality. The issue is being observed on both iOS 18 and iOS 18.1.
It is believed that the palm rejection algorithm is to blame here because the issue is more prevalent around the edges of the screen, especially around the Camera Control button. The software will sometimes ignore touches around the edges for a short while after other parts of the screen have come in contact with your hand.
Some speculate that the reason for such an aggressive palm rejection algorithm is the thinner bezels, and a semi-effective workaround is to use a case. This way, it's less likely to touch the edge of the screen, and it will work normally.
Interestingly enough, the issue isn't observed when the phone's screen is locked, suggesting it's a software issue, which in turn means that Apple will likely push a quick fix with the upcoming software update. Until then, using a case is your best hedge against the accidental touch algorithm.