Although I do not own an iPhone 3G S (yet) to confirm this issue, many iPhone 3G S, users are reporting overheating issues with the device, which is apparently dramatically affecting battery life.

Reports of this issue first came up on Nowhere Else, but has been confirmed by tech editors David Coursey and Melissa J. Perenson of PC World, who have both personally experienced the problem. According to Perenson, the iPhone became so heated that she couldn’t even touch her face with it. Coursey believes the issue has to do with the new and improved processor in the 3G S, which seems to work overtime in some iPhones when working with memory-intensive applications. Others have said that the problem is with the battery itself, which seems to be supported by evidence of a white 3G S that turned brown along the back around where the battery is located (shown in the picture above).

Apple has been asked to issue a statement on the issue, but they have yet to give one. It’s hard to know if this is a major problem and how many iPhone 3G S devices are in danger of damage from overheating. It is not yet known if this is just a defective problem in some devices or if all iPhone 3G Ss are at risk of this problem when running certain memory-intensive apps. Most importantly, it is not yet known if people are at a physical risk because of the overheating.

Apple is known to have had battery problems in the past, such as with the Sony batteries used in the iBook G4 and PowerBook G4. However, the main problem in this situation is that the iPhone’s battery is sealed in, and replacing it yourself would void your warranty. Whether a recall is ahead is unknown, but this could potentially be a major inconvenience for 3G S users.

If any iPhone 3G S owners are experiencing overheating issues, feel free to tell us about it in the comments.

Via [Wired]