Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,104
38,855


A strange issue causing the rear camera to vibrate on some iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models does not necessitate a repair, according to Apple.

iPhone-14-Pro-Camera-Vibration.jpeg
iPhone 14 Pro camera vibration issue via Luke Miani

When asked if customers who already experienced the issue on their new iPhone should visit an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, Apple said users simply need to update their iPhone once a software update with a fix is released next week, suggesting that the issue does not cause permanent hardware damage to the device.

"We're aware of the issue and a fix will be released next week," an Apple spokesperson informed MacRumors earlier today. Apple did not provide any further details, but it's likely that the fix will be included in an iOS 16.0.2 software update.

Following the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, some users have noticed that the rear camera's main/bottom lens vibrates uncontrollably when the camera is opened in apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, resulting in the lens making a rattling sound and shaky video appearing within the viewfinder on the device.

YouTuber Luke Miani claimed that the issue resulted in the main lens on an iPhone 14 Pro Max that he was testing being unable to focus properly in subsequent usage, even in the Camera app. Miani said that he took the iPhone to an Apple Store and was able to exchange the device for a new one, but it's unclear if there was any permanent damage.


Apple has not revealed the underlying cause of the issue. The main lens on both iPhone 14 Pro models features new "second-generation" sensor-shift optical image stabilization, and it is possible that the stabilizer is acting up for reasons unclear, but this is only speculation. In any case, the problem should be fixed in a matter of days.

It's unclear if next week's update will address a few other camera and AirDrop bugs that have been uncovered on iPhone 14 models since they launched on Friday.

Article Link: Apple Says iPhone 14 Pro Camera Vibration Issue Doesn't Require Repair
 
Last edited:
Meanwhile the crazies were out with pitchforks talking about how this was going to cost Apple BILLIONS and end Tim Cook's career. Yawn, as usual. Nice touch with the dime-a-dozen youtube video with the host making an exaggerated face, and some buzzword and an arrow on the title card. Way to contribute, MR.
 
Yes, yes—of course, we'll let everyone know that their devices need to be repaired because we love having to perform thousands of free repairs/device swaps and inflate our refurbished inventory.

While a repair may not be necessary, this is like buying a "new" car that has 50,000 miles on the engine already. If this issue has happened to you, your camera's IBIS system has been stressed far beyond what it would have been, and you should go in and try to get a replacement as soon as possible.
 
Last edited:
Meanwhile the crazies were out with pitchforks talking about how this was going to cost Apple BILLIONS and end Tim Cook's career. Yawn, as usual. Nice touch with the generic youtube video with the host making an exaggerated face, and some buzzword and an arrow. Way to contribute, MR.
Some people HAVE reported inability to focus in the stock camera app after having this issue, and Apple HAS replaced some phones already over this.

Maybe Apple figured out a way in software to "reset" whatever goes out of alignment when the problem occurs, but there has been evidence of something that looks a lot like "damage". Hopefully it's not!

Either way, this is costing Apple sales. I was on the fence about upgrading this year, and was going to make my decision in a month or so. This has pushed me squarely into "I'll upgrade next year". I kinda want USB-C anyway, and my 11PM is still excellent with good battery life. This has been a bad iPhone launch year for Apple, the first bad one in some time.
 
Yes, yes—of course, it needs a repair, because we love having to perform thousands of free repairs/device swaps and inflate our refurbished inventory.

While a repair may not be necessary, this is like buying a "new" car that has 50,000 miles on the engine already. If this issue has happened to you, your camera has been stressed far beyond what it would have been and you should go in and try to get a replacement as soon as possible.

Cite your data where it states that this actually was physically affecting anything or explain why your post is not pure histrionics. Even this write up goes to great lengths not to claim that.
 
Is this really a software issue? I watched Luke Miani’s video and he mentioned the camera was only shaking on his friend’s phone and not his own. You’d expect a software issue to happen regardless of hardware.

Also don’t take Apple’s word for it, if your device has this problem, return it as soon as possible for a refund/exchange within the 14 day window. Doesn’t take an engineer to figure out that insane amount of the camera sensor shaking will have put unnecessary wear on the hardware and shorten it’s component lifespan.
 
Meanwhile the crazies were out with pitchforks talking about how this was going to cost Apple BILLIONS and end Tim Cook's career. Yawn, as usual. Nice touch with the dime-a-dozen youtube video with the host making an exaggerated face, and some buzzword and an arrow on the title card. Way to contribute, MR.
Users can still file lawsuits against Apple. The US may not have consumer law like Australia but make enough noise and the law will force Apple to make customers happy.
 
It is good that Apple is on top of this, acknowledging the problem, and giving a timeframe for a fix.

Maybe they took some lessons from the butterfly keyboard disaster.


YouTuber Luke Miani claimed that the issue resulted in the main lens on an iPhone 14 Pro Max that he was testing being unable to focus properly in subsequent usage, even in the Camera app. Miani said that he took the iPhone to an Apple Store and was able to exchange the device for a new one, but it's unclear if there was any permanent damage.
I noticed that a lot of YouTubers make faces like Luke Miani is making in his video thumbnail. I forget where, but I recall seeing something, somewhere basically saying that thumbnails with people making real life emoji faces increase clicks and was encouraged by YouTube.

They have an opposite affect on me, I tend to avoid videos with people making goofy faces on the thumbnails. Anyone else like that?
 
Meanwhile the crazies were out with pitchforks talking about how this was going to cost Apple BILLIONS and end Tim Cook's career. Yawn, as usual. Nice touch with the dime-a-dozen youtube video with the host making an exaggerated face, and some buzzword and an arrow on the title card. Way to contribute, MR.
No one was out with pitchforks or to end Tim Cooks career.

YouTube thumbnails are a product of the algorithm. YouTubers have to conform if they want to continue to do YouTube.
 
Yes, yes—of course, we'll let everyone know that their devices need to be repaired, because we love having to perform thousands of free repairs/device swaps and inflate our refurbished inventory.

While a repair may not be necessary, this is like buying a "new" car that has 50,000 miles on the engine already. If this issue has happened to you, your camera has been stressed far beyond what it would have been and you should go in and try to get a replacement as soon as possible.

Any more details to offer? What gets stressed? The motors for the image stabilization system? How would they be stressed beyond their designed capacity? It isn’t something I generally think about as I imagine those motors will outlast my usage of the phone by quite a lot. But I’m interested I knowing if I should be worried here.

This has been a bad iPhone launch year for Apple, the first bad one in some time.

There are issues at every iPhone launch. I remember iPhone 13 having battery life issues at launch and how insane it was that there was a bug at launch that prevented third party apps from using the 120Hz display without stuttering.

If you want to be away from Day 1 bugs then you have to skip Day 1.
 
Dang Apple really dropped the ball on iPhone 14/Pro software QA. I think this pretty much proves they don't test these things with anything but their first party camera software. Kinda surprising and doubt this will happen again. Perhaps a sign that things were a bit more rushed this year on the dev side? I mean iPad OS has been a mess as well. No excuse for a company that makes billions upon billions of dollars per quarter. Hire some more engineers and QA testers!

Cite your data where it states that this actually was physically affecting anything or explain why your post is not pure histrionics. Even this write up goes to great lengths not to claim that.
I mean, a YouTuber claimed it right in the above article:

YouTuber Luke Miani claimed that the issue resulted in the main lens on an iPhone 14 Pro Max that he was testing being unable to focus properly in subsequent usage, even in the Camera app. Miani said that he took the iPhone to an Apple Store and was able to exchange the device for a new one, but it's unclear if there was any permanent damage.

I guess we will have to see if this damaged a certain percentage of phones but in the video it sounded like a horrible grinding sound and I do know that camera stabilization modules can be extremely sensitive and prone to damage. They have very delicate parts. In this case it may depend on how long people let it go shaking wildly. This YouTuber may have been testing it more extensively to cover what was happening, so that may have stressed it too far. Too early to know for sure, we'll see.
 
No one was out with pitchforks or to end Tim Cooks career.

YouTube thumbnails are a product of the algorithm. YouTubers have to conform if they want to continue to do YouTube.

I suppose you completely missed the comments sections of the multiple stores even right here on MR. Try scrolling back to the multiple posts about this camera issue. They are easy to spot, as they all seem to also feature the same video in order to garner attention. In fact, two of the write-ups using that video are posted back to back. It's sheer laziness. As for the "everyone has to do it to be on youtube" argument, perhaps there are other goals rather than being a video tabloid wannabe in life.
 
Meanwhile the crazies were out with pitchforks talking about how this was going to cost Apple BILLIONS and end Tim Cook's career. Yawn, as usual. Nice touch with the dime-a-dozen youtube video with the host making an exaggerated face, and some buzzword and an arrow on the title card. Way to contribute, MR.

Lol someone on 9to5Mac claimed this was affecting 70% of iPhones 14 and they all needed to be recalled immediately 😂
 
  • Like
Reactions: DarkSam
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.