iPhone 12 Pro Max screen has yellow tint

No worries on the name - it’s not my real name 🤣.

so I’ve had 5 in total.

I got apple to send me a new one ahead of sending the old one back, so I had two to compare and my old X.

phone 1 - awful. Yellow under all conditions. True Tone off or on. X much brighter and white.

phone 2 - same as phone 1

phone 3 - good with True Tone off. Tiny bit brighter than my X. Still yellow with True Tone on. Sold my X.

phone 4 - similar to 3. Kept 3

phone 5 - similar to 3. Kept 3.

Ice white was when I was in a dim artificial light room. Now in daylight and it’s just “white”. I can’t see any hint of yellow with True Tone off. But obviously in dimly lit rooms with yellow lighting it can look rather icy. Not perfect but better than New True Tone.

As I see it the problem exists on all 12th generation iPhones (or at least on all the 12 pro max). They all have yellow tint. We just got a new 12 pro max and a 12 mini, both have yellow tint. Some people just don’t see it as they don’t compare the 12 side by side to a previous iPhone generation. I still have the 11 pro max I upgraded from with me. Comparing it side by side to the 12 pro max shows the substantial difference between the two screen. Nevertheless, if I go a day without comparing, I don’t notice the problem anymore (I’m getting used to it) until the next time I compare. The problem is there. It’s in the eye of the beholder - when ppl say they fixed it, to me it reads that they got used to it. Comparing the *same photo* on both the 12 pro max an 11 pro max the - colors on the 12 look washed out whereas on the 11 very vibrant. If you can return your phone do so. However, visiting Apple genius bar yesterday I was assured that if the screen color doesn’t get fixed after the 14.2.2 upgrade, I can still go back and get it replaced even after the 2 weeks period after purchasing the phone.

Foreword: yes, True Tone and Night Shift are off.

NNDR is right. I followed the same steps, of course they led to the same result. In addition, I watched pictures and videos taken with the 12 Pro Max even on an iPad Pro (2020), a MacBook Pro (2020), iPhone 6s, 7 Plus, 3 external monitors. The colors are simply dead.

Very sad. Not only is the yellow tint a problem, but that a 5-year-old phone also produces a better picture / video. One positive thing is that black is really black (no green problem with it).

I got feedback from support, they know about the problem and are investigating it. It will probably be fixed in the next version (14.2.2). So, let's hope, right?

My purely realistic opinion is, there is no (good quality) update that can be implemented within weeks. Even if the problem isn't hardware related, I think its a huge effort, a lot of work to fix all color rendering, photo and video recording problems. Especially when I think about AI that sharpens photos or Deep Fusion makes everything better.. Very disappointing.

So, it doesn't make sense for me to wait weeks (or longer) for a possible fix and pass the return time window. I'll return the device.

I hope the developers get enough information and time to fix the problem. I can wait, its a luxury problem.

Further Update: but still tint issue with 12pro max in low brightness or when brightness is not max.

checked with apple support they told to wait..it might be fixed via software update..

Since I bought from apple, he suggested to setup genius appointment to have this looked and get replacement device if really screen defect.

Yesterday I went to the Apple Store to change the phone; but when I was there comparing the 11PRO with my 12PRO I could find really slight differences surprisingly (actually the 12PRO looked better - same settings) - look at the picture below (using the same white image).

Also comparing the 12PRO with the XR (same white picture and settings - True Tone off, etc.) there was a very small difference, a very small yellowish on my 12PRO.

They anyway changed my phone, but still I have the same problem; as you can see in the picture below, that has been taken turning on the device without any update/upload, not even the firmware (I believe it was 14.0, but not sure).

This is my experience up to now: inside the Apple Store they have a strong white light (just a slight warm but mostly white), and if you can see my picture at home, where I have a really dimmed warm light (I don't like so much the artificial light 😊), the color seems really wrong (same settings).

So today, with the white clouded sky, I tried again ....

...my impression/conclusion is that the screen adapt according the external light even if you disable the True Tone (that should perform this adjustment); it is doing some tuning and even the bright change. If this is true, it is normal that I can see so much difference between XR and 12PRO in the dark.

At this point, I'll wait the issue of the 14.3 iOS to see if the Apple engineers solved the issue: my suggestion to them is to disable any auto-update of the color screen when True Tone is disable, leaving a clear/real white color (especially when you turn on the device for the first time - not a good advertisement for iPhone); moreover, I would suggest that even when you enable the True Tone, there should be some kind of manual regulation of warm-cold (as it is in the night-shift setting), so the customer can also adjust it.

I still believe that a 1200€ Phone should not have such issues and the customer should no do any kind tuning: we buy Apple for the quality, the customer support and a device that is ready as soon as you sync it (if I wanted to hack phones and play with settings, I would buy a cheap Android).

But for now, meanwhile I'm waiting for some Apple good news/updates, after so many attempts, I found a way to have a almost real white on my phone; I show my procedure below (hoping that someone could find some help):

TONALITA' = HUE

• disable all the TrueTone and night shift
• Download a real white image that covers almost all the screen (I have attached one picture below)
• Use also another good display phone or good screen monitor with the same image for comparison
• Brightness at least at 80% or more
• do the following tuning in the dark (eventually repeat it during the day)
• -> first increase the INTENSITY level at least at 50%
• -> after, start changing the HUE level: you need to find the "over-layer" color on the screen that is between green and blue;
• -> remove the INTENSITY level (0%) and check the picture

(intensity is used only to notice the real changes of the color moving slightly the level of the HUE)

• repeat the previous 3 steps above until you are satisfy of the white color.

I did it several times, in several days to find what for me is ok.

Good luck, and let me know.

Hi all,

Many thanks for raising this issue. Unfortunately, I am also concerned...

Just had a quick chat today with Apple Assistance in France. The issue is well-known now but... they keep stating that it is a software issue and engineers officially recommend to play manually with color filters: Use display and text size preferences on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

They were unable to confirm if it will be fixed in the following iOS releases (it's not in the iOS 14.3 release notes...) and didn't want to replace my phone.

ovidiu06 wrote:

Hello,i just buyed an 12 pro max and the display is yellowish like True Tone is too aggressive.With True Tone turned off becomes normal cold white.i had every iphone and this is the first one with such an issue.Im using now Color Filters under Accessibility menu to solve te problem..Please help i don't know if i need to return the device.thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

I would say leave True Tone off as well, it's one of those features that's supposed to help but can cause more problems than it's worth. Also if your display isn't overly yellow with TT off, then your phone is working as it's supposed to. If you would like to increase a bit of white to the UI, try increase your screen brightness a little. I have found with auto brightness on, the dimmer the display, the warmer, and the less the white stands out. Also, if you would like to try True Tone, and you want a lighter look, try using your phone in a cool white, or daylight lit setting and you will probably get better results than a typically warm lit setting.

inigo160 wrote:

True Tone has been working great in my X, my 2020 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro 13. The problem here is the display, not True Tone.

I've gotten it to work on my 12 pro Max as well. And it has done what it's supposed to. However, how many average consumers understand, or want to take the time to properly light the environment to get the look they want using True Tone.

I say this because I was able to get the display to go the color blue/white people are waning here. However, I had to give the sensor that color light source such as daylight bulbs, or cool white bulbs, etc. I will also mention, that I didn't even know the display on this phone was any different until I got home and saw that True Tone was making the screen more yellow based on my apartment lighting. At Best Buy, where I got the phone, the display looked normal, and after turning off TT it still looks normal at home. Even with TT on, it's not as drastic now, after gave the sensor several good workouts. So maybe it's a TT sensor calibration issue as well. The fact is, if it was strictly a physical display defect / problem then nothing people do would remove the tint, even the color filters which Apple specially told people to do until they have addressed the issue.

I repeat, i have ever had any issues with True Tone until now, until i purchased 12 pro max. Is my 4th replacement and all have the same issue. Yellow screen, with True Tone on and of compared to my X, MacBook Pro and iPad Pro 2020 which has great white balance. Now i will return definitely. iPhone 12 is a fail for me, at least, at this point.

IPhone 12 display has issues, at least a lot of them. Issues that will not be addressed with a software update for sure. That ever happened with yellow displays. And no, True Tone does not learn after some workouts.

Something that no one has mentioned in any of these complaints is that the fact that these current generation panels made by Samsung on the pro max have additional blue light filtering reduced from previous generations. This will give in layman’s terms more yellowing appearance. It’s like this with current Samsung devices compared to their older models. Known issue on multiple forums.

I'm having same problem! I JUST bought 12 Pro Max at the apple store 2 hours ago, got home and set it up to find a yellow tinted screen. My wife with the 12 Pro is having the same issue and she got hers sent to her from her phone provider last week. Lady at the apple store today says they are having a lot of people coming in to exchange these "yellow" screens

I've recently bought the 12 Pro Max, also coming from a 7 Plus.

The sharpness, true color, crispness, and even the speakers on my 7+ are all better compared to the 12 Pro Max.

I have an appointment at the Genius Bar tomorrow and I'm either getting a new phone from them, or returning the 12 Pro Max. No way I'm going to sit on a $1500 phone with terrible screen so that maybe Apple can fix it with a software update (I don't think that's the issue). I'm not going to risk missing my return window.

Reading people seeing a difference in the same model with different devices is concerning. It means the problem is at production level, or hardware related.

12 Pro Max was manufacture in 2020. Says it all.

The 14.4 update changed nothing. I especially notice the yellow tint on black and white photos. Not okay.

There’s this https://www.iphonetricks.org/how-to-fix-iphone-12-yellow-screen-display/

And this https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/iphone-12-yellow-screen-tint-3797688/

And this

https://www.macprices.net/2020/11/25/owners-of-apples-iphone-12-series-report-being-plagued-with-odd-quirks-in-devices-screens/

It’s everywhere online. I’m looking at a slightly warm screen myself right now, after getting off my 7+ that never had this issue.

FYI, the 12 screens are made by Samsung. Samsung always has a tint issue!! I think this is a hardware problem.

It looks like Apple is aware of the issue:

https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/18/apple-aware-of-display-issues-affecting-some-iphone-12-models/?fbclid=IwAR1aWzxvlrCLIK-1eAr8W-vEOgXn5HdhMGctbp6Oc9dtgqRECRQ-D9tV4kA

OMG, do t do that. That will only burn your panel. There is nothing you can do with yellow screen. Is how white balance is calibrated. Return it or get used to it. Nothing more you can do, definitely.