iPhone 15 front camera issues

I think I SOLVED this. READ BELOW

I bought the iPhone like 2 months ago, and tried everything, believe me everything. I even have like 10 apps that take photos and compared everything. I'll here write a "guide" to kind of solve this nightmare.

(However, APPLE SHOULD KNOW THIS IS NOT OK. Clearly people who don't like taking photos don't care about the camera, but we, who like taking selfies sometimes, are so disappointed).

Well.

1- At the settings, search "View full HDR". Let me explain: this is an option that comes by default activated. I thought this did nothing but it actually does. A month ago I tried that solution but I didn't like it. Today I understood... View Full HDR is just a thing made for the native iPhone Photos App. So, actually the horrible selfie you are seeing in the photos app is "not that horrible" if you find the photo via instagram's photos gallery. (But it's still horrible). First step is deactivating View full HDR.

Test it yourself like this: go to a place in your house with a nice light, (not direct sun) but a sunny day maybe. Take a selfie, and a milisecond after that, take a screenshot also.

If you have View full HDR activated, the screenshot and the photo will look VERY different. But if you deactivate it, it will start looking a little better.

Take into account that, since this is as I said, something for the Photos App; deactivating it will show photos the way they would actually upload in instagram. (So, for me, it's a good idea to deactivate it) (Activate it just for landscapes).

2- OK, now that you deactivated the fullHDR, also, let's adjust the exposure on the camera app. Go to the cam, and touch the little triangle. Then touch de + - icon and put more or less +0,7

(The idea is having this forever, so in the configuration of the iPhone camera you should activate Preserve configuration of Exposure Adjustment).

This will take more lively photos and your skin won't look grey.

3- Ok now that we have done those steps, go to settings again and in Camera/formats activate ProRaw control.

Now, before taking the selfie, make sure you hit the button "RAW". (You can also preserve this in settings).

We're done.

Conclusion: Now take selfies like that:

RAW + no view full hdr + exposure 0,7

This way, the photos will look very veryyy similar to what you see before taking them.

You may try comparing your "fixed selfies" to selfies took in Instagram. Both of them may now look nice.

The instagram ones a little darker maybe, because in ur photos app you have a little more exposure.

OPTIONAL WORKAROUNDS

a- Take videos instead of selfies

b- Use a third party app. I like Yamera

c- Take selfies in Portrait mode and put studio light. Modify the amount to your wish.

d- Take selfies without doing anything I said, but after taking them, put edit, and push the button above on the left, the one that looks like an hexagon so you can add "studio light" to your pic. This will make it look nicer.

NICE APPS TO HAVE and edit the photos a little more (Strongly suggested)

Lightroom, Peach, SODA

APPLE: PLEASE JUST MAKE THE SELFIES LOOK LIKE THEY LOOK ON THE SCREEN BEFORE TAKING THEM.

Try taking the photos in RAW format, and also, deactivate in configuration of Photos app: View Full HDR.

That solves it a little.

Also, you can try: activating prioritize faster shooting; and activating volume up for burst photos. Then take ur photos by holding the volume up. They will look 90% like u were seeing on the screen, but they will loose a bit of quality.

Also, you can try, taking them without RAW (default format), but before taking them you put exposure up to 0,7. (and have view Full HDR deactivated in configuration of Photos app).

However, these are temporary solutions, Apple should fix this ASAP

Turn your “mirror front camera” toggle on. I was having this same issue, turned this feature on and the quality is much better. It’s not as great as I’d expect from Apple, but it’s much better.

settings > camera > mirror from camera

Fix your phone camera exposure. Doing that fixed my phone photos!

Fix your phone camera exposure. Doing that fixed my phone photos!

It’s because you have portraits turned off

Couldnt agree more, the front camera and at times the back camera as well is pathetic and terrible word is an understatement.

it completely destroys the picture and makes it look uglier- far away from reality. Apple please work on getting it fixed asap

I completely agree. When I’m taking a photo, it looks great looking at it from my camera. But the minute I look at it the photo it’s blurry, greyed out, and just looking washed out.

I thought it was a camera setting I messed up or something and went looking for answers on the web and unfortunately came across this thread. It’s so terrible that apple would do this.

I am experiencing the same issue. I upgraded from the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 15 Pro Max a week ago, and am highly disappointed in the front-facing camera processing. I have adjusted many settings and played with it, but the photos come out darker, grainier, and duller than before the photos are taken. When I screenshot the photo about to be taken vs taking the photo, it is a world of a difference. Taking this to the Apple Store tonight and likely returning this phone for a google pixel or Samsung.

After a prolonged wait, I made the switch from my iPhone 11 to the iPhone 15 Pro primarily for its superior camera quality. However, I am extremely disappointed. The front camera produces pictures reminiscent of the iPhone 5 or even older models, displaying initial greyness and blurriness that only slightly improves after a few seconds. Surprisingly, my iPhone 11 captures significantly better selfies. This issue appears to be widespread across this model, as indicated by various comments. If I had seen these reviews earlier, I would have refrained from investing a considerable amount. I urgently urge the team to address and rectify this issue promptly, as it is unacceptable and feels like a disheartening investment.

Most frustrating part is that Apple is not saying anything on this issue. I feel that this is an issue related to AI processing but I don’t know when this will be fixed. I tried taking selfies on all iphone 15 models and issue remains the same. Maybe returning the phone is the only option.

I had a 13 Pro Max and it took excellent rear and selfie photos. I waited until the 15 and expected to have excellent camera quality. Unfortunately I am experiencing the same issue. Selfies are dark dingy, a weird dim filter like, grainy, noisy and lacking in color. The quality of these pictures reminds me of selfies from 10 years ago. This is extremely unacceptable for a phone well over $1500, Apple must address this.

Been thinking about this, it’s the same thing that happened to actors when HD started, all imperfections started showing, the camera isn’t bad, it just captures more of REALITY, much more detail and tones, hence if your skin has more imperfections, they will show. Maybe apple should just develop some sort of skin smoothing filter, just enough to keep it real but smooth out the imperfections,

Has anyone who is having this issue tried taking it to an Apple Genius Bar for repair or replacement? I’m thinking about doing this but it is an hour away from me, so I wanted to see if anyone else has tried this yet.

I recently updated my phone to Iphone 15 pro max from Iphone 13 pro max and the camera is SHOCKING! greyed skin, grainy, washed out blurry mess! And yes I'm focusing and taking the photo correctly! Wish I never upgraded!! So so disappointed all photos I take now are ruined