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iPhone X iPhone X camera quality degraded after update
- Thread starter StylinGirl
- Start date
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I noticed it last year when I updated my iPhone X to iOS 12 from iOS 11
More grain/noise indoors than before and I believe it's Apple forcing users to update.
Apple IS SCAMMING US
Yup, same with my X going to 13, however I really don’t use the camera except for little digisnaps now and then. I always have a ”real” cam with me. 
Exactly my thoughts last year as well!
They needed to show how much better the XS was. It was all software related, so I believe they held back and even downgraded the X.
People can believe what they want but my images have degraded as well not sure if it was iOS 13 or the last few supplemental updates. I knew I should have just stayed with what worked. So annoying.
Smartphone cameras have a lot of post processing via the camera app. Performance, quality and image processing are typically at odds with each other. Finding the compromise between all the variables (compression type and quality, iso, exposure, f-stops, image processing amount and quality, better at low light or bright light, etc etc etc). Updating the app between iOS versions can effect the images quality fairly easily.
I dont have a problem with grain at all unless its really low light but this is common. iOS 13 provided tools for noise reduction in photos. That might help you out some.
This image will not come through for you guys (compression from the camera, export, screenshot and finally MacRumors upload). Its just the point of reference I used on my Mac directly from the originals between iOS 12 and iOS 13.
![Screen Shot 2020-03-13 at 3.19.54 AM.png]( "Screen Shot 2020-03-13 at 3.19.54 AM.png")
(click)
The image is a specific forum I use at work since they are using similar distances, lighting, etc, this is as close as I can get to comparing similar images from 2 different OS's and 2 different phones. The iOS 12 version is using a bolder font (since its a year old things change) then both 13 versions. Also keep in mind this is at a macro level nitpicking here (300-400% zoom).
iOS 12 adds quite a bit of noise reduction. This is required with smartphones to an extent but too much and the image starts to look mosaic (painted effect) and overly soft, borderline blurry. The colons are supposed to be 2 squares but iOS makes them look a bit round.
I can't tell if its sharpened in anyway or not but I think it is since I can see a bit of gray in the middle of the black text if I look really close.
White has a slightly red hue. Naturally the paper in my work environment should be gray with a hint of yellow (gray drywall walls with an ugly depressing yellow cubical walls). All the colors are going to be slightly off if white is off.
I also think the white is also too bright causing the colors (not in the image) to look too dark.
iOS 13 isn't perfect by any means but I think the main difference is they just reduced the amount of image processing automatically applied by the camera app. In turn they gave us the editing tools for post processing because one size fits all with photo editing is basically one size fits none.
Again I want to mention this was at nitpicking levels. The reality is the images
I dont have a problem with grain at all unless its really low light but this is common. iOS 13 provided tools for noise reduction in photos. That might help you out some.
This image will not come through for you guys (compression from the camera, export, screenshot and finally MacRumors upload). Its just the point of reference I used on my Mac directly from the originals between iOS 12 and iOS 13.
(click)
The image is a specific forum I use at work since they are using similar distances, lighting, etc, this is as close as I can get to comparing similar images from 2 different OS's and 2 different phones. The iOS 12 version is using a bolder font (since its a year old things change) then both 13 versions. Also keep in mind this is at a macro level nitpicking here (300-400% zoom).
iOS 12 adds quite a bit of noise reduction. This is required with smartphones to an extent but too much and the image starts to look mosaic (painted effect) and overly soft, borderline blurry. The colons are supposed to be 2 squares but iOS makes them look a bit round.
I can't tell if its sharpened in anyway or not but I think it is since I can see a bit of gray in the middle of the black text if I look really close.
White has a slightly red hue. Naturally the paper in my work environment should be gray with a hint of yellow (gray drywall walls with an ugly depressing yellow cubical walls). All the colors are going to be slightly off if white is off.
I also think the white is also too bright causing the colors (not in the image) to look too dark.
iOS 13 isn't perfect by any means but I think the main difference is they just reduced the amount of image processing automatically applied by the camera app. In turn they gave us the editing tools for post processing because one size fits all with photo editing is basically one size fits none.
Again I want to mention this was at nitpicking levels. The reality is the images
i’m planing on not upgrading my iOS any further as to avoid any issues in the future. 13.3.1 seems very stable
