iPhone 12 photos taken at night always show lights as hazy. Is my camera hardware busted?

[SW3029]

I have an iPhone 12 and I couldn't be happier with the crisp photos it takes in daylight.

But for months now I've noticed that when I take a photo a night, any streetlights show up very hazy in the pictures. This is happening even when I'm not taking Night Mode photos. All street lights show up as hazy glares in the images.

Is this a known issue with the iPhone 12 camera, or could my camera hardware be busted?

It's the most baffling thing because, as I've said, the photos the iPhone 12 takes in daylight are incredible.

 

[Slartibart]

maybe you can kindly share a photo and some additional info e.g. iOS version, are you using Apple’s camera app, mode used, format photo taken in, etc.?