iPhone fans baffled after user spots 'black dot of death' at the top of their screen

For those who remember the blood-chilling moment your Xbox got the Red Ring of Death and you knew its days were numbered, you might end up with some PTSD after reading this article.

iPhone users have spotted a potential problem that could cost them a fortune.

While the Nokia phones of yesteryear were built like they could withstand an earthquake and could survive a week on a single charge, the smartphones of today are a little more fragile.

Most of us have had that heart-skipping feeling when we drop our iPhone, turning it over to see the screen is smashed.

Or, what about dropping it in water, only to find putting it in rice won't bring your doomed device back to life?

The Black Dot of Death could be a major problem for iPhone users (Apple)

Despite Apple's best efforts, iPhones are far from perfect, with even the upcoming iOS 26 and Liquid Glass update causing plenty of complaints among the community.

Then again, when you spend so much to ensure you have the latest iPhone, we think you're allowed to be a little picky.

Over on Reddit, a group of distressed Apple fans are lamenting the tech giant's own Red Ring of Death. Dubbed the Black Dot of Death, the OP explains how the tiny black circle randomly popped up on their screen.

Looking like a miniature Dynamic Island, they're baffled by its appearance and the fact that they're unable to take a screenshot. Taking a picture of it with another phone, they appealed to other Redditors to help them.

When someone asked if the dot is still there following a reboot, the user unfortunately confirmed it is, suggesting there's something wrong with the hardware instead of the software.

Confirming our worst fears, someone else wrote: "Had same issue. Had to get my 16p screen replaced."

Another added: "I had the same thing on the corner of my 16 Pro. Little semicircle. Took it in to Apple and they replaced the display free of charge under the limited warranty."

A third chimed in saying: "OLED screen damage. Impact on that spot. Black circle will continue to grow. Screen will eventually need to be replaced as it grows."

Someone claimed they had a similar issue, and it was a glitch with Bluetooth, but looking at most of the comments, it looks like the OP could need a new screen.

It should be relatively simple to fix if the phone is under warranty or you have AppleCare+, but if you don't, it might be a costly issue.

So, if you end up with the Black Dot of Death on your iPhone, it looks like a trip to the Apple store could be on the cards.