Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera problems: Blue smudges, lines, etc. [MERGED]
- Thread starter JasonHB
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I made few tests today with my 14 Pro and 16 Pro. In absolutely pitch dark room I'm getting mixed results with the 16 Pro. Sometimes the picture is bit greenish on the some of the objects in the room (like chair). Other times it's black with blue all over it. When I add just a bit of small light (I have small pocket flashlight) and i cover it in the curtain, to make it very faint, my pictures are fine with no blue. The interesting part is, that I have like small rectangular basket (with very small holes), where I prompted my phones, so they can shoot 30s. I noticed that the 16 Pro was "blue" in the holes, where is supposed to be the background of the room (14 Pro was dark). In my opinion it's something wrong with the processing of the camera, because it's a new sensor. Yeah, some are probably better than others, but still I think it can be fixed via software.
I'm attaching this very photo to illustrate.
Edit: When I just put the flashlight out of the curtain, so it's not extra dim, the holes are fine.
Edit 2: You can see also kinda green at some spots. It's random and it's on both 14 Pro and 16 Pro. With more light it improves.
I'm attaching this very photo to illustrate.
Edit: When I just put the flashlight out of the curtain, so it's not extra dim, the holes are fine.
Edit 2: You can see also kinda green at some spots. It's random and it's on both 14 Pro and 16 Pro. With more light it improves.
Attachments
This seems to have been an issue with the 15 Pro's too, the facedown test isn't a good test as even Shayne on his YouTube videos confirms his 15 Pro has lots of noise doing the facedown test but nothing shows in the actual photos.
Here is a link to an old Reddit post where they tried 2 15 Pro Max's and both suffered the same issue more or less.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera
I imagine Apple may be able to hide it software via post processing or something but its probably a variance in quality of the camera sensors with some being better than others.
Here is a link to an old Reddit post where they tried 2 15 Pro Max's and both suffered the same issue more or less.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera
I imagine Apple may be able to hide it software via post processing or something but its probably a variance in quality of the camera sensors with some being better than others.
Update. My device was not within 14 day return window when I discovered the issue so I wasn’t able to get a replacement. I contacted Apple Support, they got logs from my phone, pictures and video of how this test is performed. Today I got a reply from Apple Engineering team and they said my phone behaved as expected. This blue noise they were able to see in logs and told that is normal to have it in such extreme dark conditions. They told it is neither a hardware fault, nor software issue. They asked me to provide real pictures made in the dark with blue haze. They are not accepting the test described here, they want blue lines on a real photo. Just for your information I have like 90% of the picture with blue haze during the rear camera down test.
The thing is that I don’t have any blue haze in real pictures even on astrophotos. They also answered my question about people having pitch black photos with this test and claimed that sensors behave the same way. My wife’s iPhone gets black pictures with this test with like 10 hot pixels on it.
Not sure anymore what to do next. I am not so familiar with the digital photography and was not able to confront them.
The thing is that I don’t have any blue haze in real pictures even on astrophotos. They also answered my question about people having pitch black photos with this test and claimed that sensors behave the same way. My wife’s iPhone gets black pictures with this test with like 10 hot pixels on it.
Not sure anymore what to do next. I am not so familiar with the digital photography and was not able to confront them.
Direct answer from the dude which made the videos about this. Since your phone is perfect, while making real photos - you are OK. Enjoy it!
I'm going to say good for you. But mine absolutely shows blue in dark rooms, 30s exposures.
Besides, I have had 4 phones without blue haze in the 30s on the table top test. iPhone 12 mini, 13 mini, 13, 15 pro. I am an engineer and I too sometimes deal with optics but mostly on LED side. This is classic example of them moving the goalposts or changing their specs once more variation creeps in that is beyond their normal expected range. How? Supplier quality or poor engineering work. I too would have under stress changed specs to deny customer claims. Don’t ask me what OEM I work for though.
Attachments
I dont work for a cell phone company but like I said, my problems are more towards LED's rather than CMOS sensors. So I don't claim to know lots about this issue, but I have experience near this field and very appropriate when dealing with business suppliers that sell components to the fruit company.
Optics is already ubiquitous enough you don't need to suspect anyone even though I kind of understand the reason for that.
Bad suppliers are everywhere, including the largest fruit company in the world.
I have until 2019 used Samsung Androids and I abandoned them when their quality went down the drain.
If Apple does this too, I won't hesitate to re-evaluate my choices.
The reason I am a new user here is because from my first Apple phone in 2019 until today, and including my wife's who I am responsible to choose for, have NOT encountered a single defect. Not one. Until now. You know the saying forums are for complaints. I've upgraded and switched around due to size, form factor, speed, performance but I won't hesitate to switch away from Apple if I don't think they deserve my money.
Allowing some less strict specifications on the image sensors is a safe way to increase earnings on each device sold. Pricing of the sensors are tiered on how strictly they must follow specifications to be approved.
The blue lines issue is mostly affecting astrophotography which is a niche use case so most 16 Pro-buyers will not even notice that their device is affected.
Still, it is sad to see this happening on such an expensive device.
The blue lines issue is mostly affecting astrophotography which is a niche use case so most 16 Pro-buyers will not even notice that their device is affected.
Still, it is sad to see this happening on such an expensive device.
Fair enough, reasonable response, I retract my suspicions.
I have decided to keep the unit I have now having been through quite a few as it’s the only one with a screen with no green cast off centre and a perfect grey scale and screen uniformity which is way more important to me than low light photography…….you pay your money you take your choice, that and I’ll be getting the 17 Pro or Air in 10 months.
The last (15 Pro) iPhone was the first and only that I haven’t had to return or exchange for either cosmetic (scratches, dings, anodising faults, mushy buttons) issues or screen issues like colour cast, black crush etc.
To get a decent camera sensor, fault free screen and good build quality without any other faults is pretty close to impossible, it really depends on how detail focused you are…..a lot of people are just happy if it turns on out the box and look no closer, alas I am not one of those people.
You can always make the 10 months shorter by continuing to utilize the 2 week return window. Before you know it it’ll be 2 months before the 17 series is released 😂😂🤣
Oh Freddy McZeddy, your wise counsel is as welcome as ever…… as is your inability to not take the bait 😂😂🤣
If i WAS a cellphone OEM I would love to have you as a customer. What did apple do to deserve you...and I don't mean this sarcastically.
With my first and ONLY warranty claim they have brushed me off without so much as an email or phone call to ask me how to replicate the issue or what is actually wrong.
Anyway like I said I live in a 3rd world country that does not protect the consumer, and my phone is actually in a neighbouring country for the diagnosis. I feel helpless and bullied.
For people with hot pixels that is normal, just google about it, top of the range DSLR's can map them out but all CMOS sensors have them, its caused by charge leakage in the sensor Most Pros remove them with processing, there are loads of articles about them, Apple need to bring in a way to remap them. As to blue lines that I think is a problem with the sensor but since as its been mentioned its a niche way of using the camera most people wont see that. I tested mine and its black thankfully with a few hot pixels but that's to be expected.
www.dpreview.com
How common are "hot pixels"?: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.
www.dpreview.com
I’m sorry you’re having such an unpleasant experience.
Apple do have form for saying products are “within spec” when they don’t publish a specification for that particular issue.
Take real photos in really low-light. That table-top test is not real representation for the issue.
I’m returning my phone. Complete pitch black and I got blue spots. This is unacceptable
If they call it a hardware problem then a recall has to be done , so they will label it as for "customer satisfaction". So you have to play the apple lottery to get a replacement.
Last edited:
This are very interesting findings! So the iPhone 15s also suffered from the same issue.
Yeah, it's not the first time I saw it. Even people in the comments of ShayneMostyn was saying, that they had similar issues with their 15's.