iPhone 15 Pro Max Photos Blurry

Update: The only thing that fully fixed it is doing an express exchange and getting a new device. Something was definitely wrong with the first device. Photos on new device look great

I have the exact same issue.

At the moment, I have my old iPhone 14 Pro, so I was able to compare them side by side. The difference was huge.

Took them both into the Apple store, they verified the issue and said 'wow, that's weird', hemmed and hawed for a couple hours, told to me to call Apple support, then sent me on my way.

Called Apple support 20 minutes later. Support rep also verified the issue when I pointed it out to her. More hemming, and then get told my options are to do a return (without an authorization hold), or do a DFU-level restore and not restore old data to it.

I love everything else about the phone, so I chose the latter. Aaaaand the issue is still there. Great. My support contact gave me an escalation line to use for the return process, so I used it, and then was told that I would need to do an express replacement, which would put an authorization hold on my card of choice. 🤦

I was also told that my only other option was to go through Verizon for a replacement

So YMMV, but definitely try

I had same blurry results on the new iPhone 15 Pro Max I bought. I'm a pro photographer for thirty years. Never seen the iPhone hunt for focus (on a page with lines on it three feet away), or turn mushy clarity in the mid range lenses. It's horrible. I took it back. It's worse than the iPhone 14. It's the first time Apple's disappointed me. They rushed this to market with an obvious flaw. Tony Northrup shows you why at 8:38 minutes in on his YouTube https://youtu.be/AsRmEc26Yc4?si=o6oPbwIy_e6ERvZI

I took my iPhone 15 back to the Apple store to alert them of this flaw. Kevin, the manager at the Pasadena Apple store, tried to debunk everything I brought up. I showed him the Northrup video. Didn't glance at it. He said there are plenty of positive reviews on the internet and it's just the same old thing that happens every year when Apple releases something new. A bunch of guys criticize the product and it's just what they do. Not this time. This is a FLAW. There are not FLAWS allowed at $1,500. What I wanted him to say was that Apple was aware of it and there's a fix coming in January of 2024. But he continued to dismiss the issue. The store did give me a refund but it's not the money. It's the fact that Apple would rush a product to market with flaws. The Apple engineers have done remarkably well for decades. The pressure must be intense. I guess I can allow them one stumble. (I hope the marketing department is not starting to run the show at the expense of a great product.) I hope the next iPhone hits the mark next year. Meantime, I'm buying an iPhone 13 Pro Max off the internet to replace the one I traded in when I got the 15. And I'll spend the $1500. on a lens for my Canon mirrorless for telephoto shots.

What improved this issue for me was changing my camera settings format from “most compatible” to “high efficiency”. I noticed that my new phone was shooting jpgs instead of heics when I airdropped pics to my computer to compare them to my old phone bc they were so horrendous. I also tried turning off “portraits in photo mode” but upon further testing, it was the format that made the difference for me. Hope this improves the issue for someone else

I am facing the same issue with my brand new 15 pro max 512 GB, I have found a way that fixes it. Going into the settings > Camera > photo mode > change to 12 mp.

The selfies on the 12 mp setting look a 100 times better than with the 24 mp option turned on. Hope this helps some of you guys! And apple please fix it, this is laughable stuff from such an expensive device

It does take fantastic photos as long as you use the wide lens and the tele lens, but not the mid-range. I had same blurry results on the new iPhone 15 Pro Max I bought. I'm a pro photographer for thirty years. Never seen the iPhone fail to find focus (on a page with lines on it three feet away), or turn mushy clarity in the mid range lenses. It's horrible. Worse than the iPhone 14. Tony Northrup shows you why at 8:38 minutes in on his YouTube https://youtu.be/AsRmEc26Yc4?si=o6oPbwIy_e6ERvZI

I'm curious if you have lens protectors on your iPhone cameras? If you do, I've seen other people post examples like that and once removed, their cameras worked perfectly.

The best thing you can do is take your phone to your Apple Store Genius Bar and let them test it.

I'm getting AMAZING results from my 15 Pro Max. I took this photo in pretty low light tonight:

Asking Apple to resolve anything here on this user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't participate in, is not going to get you anything.

My iPhone 15 Pro Max takes outstanding pictures. It would be one thing if every iPhone 15 Pro Max had a camera issue, that is not the case (we have 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, neither has any cameras issues), waiting for a fix, which isn't effecting everyone isn't very likely.

Instead, I'd schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar and show your phone to Apple for testing.

I bought the phone with Apple so I did the express exchange with them! It was very easy. You just have to chat or call customer support and they'll help with your options to repair or exchange. Not sure how Verizon handles this stuff though

Same here. Tested 13/14/15/15pro15/promax against my 12 and old SE. Alle the 15s are worse than the rest. I have replaced my 15 for a new 15 one in box. But I am not sure what to do. Seems like it’s not a hardware issue but software. Besides blurry pics i also found it’s doing a super aggressive noise reduction which makes faces look like plastic Barbie.

How in the world this got released? Btw it does not matter which iOS its present in 17.0.2, 17.0.3 and 17.1.

thought I was crazy. But others agreed and they left the store not buying a 15. They all came for the camera upgrades but hey maybe sticking to your old phone is best until this is fixed.

I had same blurry results on the new iPhone 15 Pro Max I bought. I'm a pro photographer for thirty years. Never seen the iPhone hunt for focus (on a page with lines on it three feet away), or turn mushy clarity in the mid range lenses. It's horrible. Worse than the iPhone 14. Tony Northrup shows you why at 8:38 minutes in on his YouTube https://youtu.be/AsRmEc26Yc4?si=o6oPbwIy_e6ERvZI

If you have had your phone for more than 14 days you are out of the return period. Contact Apple Support or go to your local Apple Store if you believe something is wrong with your iPhone. After troubleshooting if they determine it if your phone they will either offer an exchange or have you send it in for repair

I have been dealing with this issue for almost 30 days going back and forth with Apple support chat, then phone calls, escalated to the engineers. Wasted countless hours troubleshoots and on phone calls etc and Nothing has worked. Apple said I could do express exchange but they want to put a hold on my credit card for full price of the phone until they receive the other back. Ummm NO! So I have appointment with my local Verizon store tomorrow at noon to get my replacement ordered through them instead.

awhigs wrote:

Never used a lens protector and I use a lens cloth to remove fingerprints. This is a real issue that any other company would address immediately if you spent $1500 on their equipment.

Schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar. I'm not sure how Apple can address an issue which doesn't effect most of the iPhone 15 Pro models in peoples hands. It certainly isn't an issue on our 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max.