iPhone 14 Pro Owners Complain of 'Slow' Camera App

[MacRumors]

Some iPhone 14 Pro owners are having problems with the Camera app, with multiple complaints on the MacRumors forums suggesting that the camera can take several seconds to load when it is opened.

Affected users are seeing the Camera app take four to five seconds to activate after the Camera app icon is tapped, with the problem occurring after the camera has been opened once already. From MacRumors reader Sephiroth0:

I have the same issue with my iPhone 14 Pro (non Max). When restarting the phone and starting the camera app the camera turns on immediately. After closing and opening the camera app it always takes 4 - 5 seconds for the camera to turn on. I've tested other apps using the camera and there it it turns on instantly. I assume this is a SW bug.

The problem does not happen if the Camera app has been manually closed and reopened, or after a software restart. It seems to exclusively occur when the Camera app has been running in the background, and this is not a problem that appears to be affecting all users. The complaints are primarily from iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max users, and it happens in all photo modes.

In our own testing, we ran into the same issue with the Camera app taking several seconds to open, but it did not happen every time that we opened the app, just on occasion. MacRumors readers have noticed that the issue is limited to the Camera app and does not affect third-party camera apps, and it also does not appear to happen when the Camera app is set to video mode instead of photo mode.

The iOS 16.0.1 update does not appear to fix the issue for those who are impacted. Restarting the iPhone does not provide a permanent fix, and neither does factory resetting the device. Some MacRumors readers have speculated that it could be a RAM management issue. From MacRumors forum member xyz2610, who also shared a video:

I've just discovered that it may be a RAM management issue with the camera app. When I clear my iPhone 14 Pro's RAM by first enabling Assistive Touch in the Accessibility Settings, then press Volume Up, Volume Down and hold the Power Button until the shutdown menu comes up and then long press the Home Button on the Assistive Touch menu to clear the RAM, the Camera App always launches quickly on the first try. For subsequent camera app launches, however, the app still takes around 5 seconds to open.

Slow loading is not the only issue affecting the Camera. iPhone 14 Pro models have also run into a static or clicking noise coming from the camera, and there is a major problem when recording video using third-party apps. In apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, the camera vibrates uncontrollably, causing shaky footage. Unlike the slow loading Camera app, this issue is limited to third-party apps.

Multiple MacRumors readers have reported camera issues to Apple, and it is likely that a fix is in the works. We could soon see an iOS 16 update that will address the multitude of bugs that the new devices appear to be experiencing.

Article Link: iPhone 14 Pro Owners Complain of 'Slow' Camera App

 

[F23]

all the iPhone 14 pro issues seem to come from iOS 16 being a mess, not the hardware itself. so at least the issues can be fixed

 

[mansplains]

I've had this several times with my 13PM, hit the button, shutter lag, I end up with a blurry mess. Maybe I'm impatient when I move my phone away from subject...

 

[TroyBoy30]

no prob here

 

[kirk.vino]

This might be some sort of a record for the number of issues during a new iPhone release.

 

[rjjacobson]

I have seen non of the many problems supposedly happening with my 14 ProMax always issues for a few which seem to get sensationalized here a bit not that if you are having problems you are happy

 

[GeoStructural]

iOS 16 has been such a buggy release.

I have it on my iPhone 13 Pro Max too and it is horrible. Battery is suffering too, it is less than 50 % already by noon, before I could get home late in the afternoon with 50-60 % charge remaining.

 

[LogicalApex]

Works fine for me on my iPhone 14 Pro 512GB.

Not that it helps those impacted. Hopefully it gets sorted soon.

 

[Paddle1]

Is iOS 17 going to have to be another optimization release like iOS 12?

 

[brian3uk]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple needs to stop trying to release new hardware and major iOS versions at the same time. They clearly cannot manage to do them simultaneously. Release the new phones with stable software and then do the upgrade later. Save everyone a lot of headaches.

 

[Flash1420]

Yeah the number of issues with new iPhone models seem to be increasing year over year. Makes me wonder if Apple is skipping essential testing before releasing the phone to the public.

 

[Villarrealadrian]

One more for the list…

 

[boom_r]

Camera app has been performing really poorly on my 12 mini since iOS 16 last Monday. Slow to capture, slow to rotate, sometimes gets stuck in landscape orientation after taking a landscape photo.

 

[Carlson-online]

Camera app (unused) sucked up almost a full days battery till i force closed it

 

[podycust]

Not limited to just the 14s I’ve had similar at times for years on XR and 13

 

[applesith]

I’m curious to how many reports of issues MR requires to publish an article implying something is a wider spread issue?

 

[contacos]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple needs to stop trying to release new hardware and major iOS versions at the same time. They clearly cannot manage to do them simultaneously. Release the new phones with stable software and then do the upgrade later. Save everyone a lot of headaches.

Some of those new features require a tweaked UI though

 

[Orizaba]

I feel like iOS16 needs to be further optimized on 14 pro models. I had smooth sailing last week when upgrading my 13 Pro max to iOS16, but with my 14 Pro Max, ive already had to restore because I message was not downloading all of my messages...

 

[jml1982]

I have this issue, among numerous other little quirks...

 

[roar08]

Yeah the number of issues with new iPhone models seem to be increasing year over year. Makes me wonder if Apple is skipping essential testing before releasing the phone to the public.

Observationally, it seems there's a significant lack of rigorous testing on all "recent" device models. To me, recent is a 5 year window but that's just my opinion. OS testing should be excruciatingly rigorous for all models within that window. Again, just my opinion.

 

[applicious84]

Bugs!! Though I thought Patel at the Verge summed it up nicely and optimistically

Apple iPhone 14 Pro review: early adopter island

The notch is gone.

www.theverge.com

What I don’t know is if all these new ideas are worth it yet. If you’re the sort of person who’s willing to accept some rough edges to be on the bleeding edge, you’re going to have a lot of fun with the iPhone 14 Pro — in many ways, you’ll be figuring it out right alongside Apple. But if you’re happy with your current phone, it might be worth holding out for another year to see how some of these things work out.

 

[Naraxus]

This is just outright comical at this point. Hell, Scott Forstall was thrown under the bus for FAR less than this.

Please, by a show of hands, who still wants to defend Craig Fedherigi?

 

[jayducharme]

iOS 16 has been such a buggy release.

I have it on my iPhone 13 Pro Max too and it is horrible. Battery is suffering too, it is less than 50 % already by noon, before I could get home late in the afternoon with 50-60 % charge remaining.

Same on my 13 mini. Battery life has taken a big hit.

 

[brian3uk]

Some of those new features require a tweaked UI though

Understandable but put those changes in a point update.

 

[SamRyouji]

It just (comically) works (sometimes, with workarounds).