How to Fix iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Focus Issue

The iPhone 13 Pro’s standard camera can focus much closer than the 16 Pro‘s. 

When photographing a full A4 sized paper or similar it seems that the 16 Pro is close to the threshold of switching to macro mode. This leads to blurry pictures. Apple should address this by changing the lens or the distance at which the switch from standard to wide angle lens/macro mode occurs. 

You’re running into 2 issues. One is the barrel distortion associated with ultra wide angle lenses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion_(optics)

The second issue is Ultra wide angle lenses often appear less sharp at the corners because of the inherent design challenges in capturing a very wide field of view, which can lead to issues like light falloff (Vignetting), barrel distortion, and field curvature*, causing the image quality to degrade significantly towards the edges of the frame, especially when compared to the center sharpness; this is particularly noticeable on lower-end lenses or when shooting at wide apertures. 

“Curvature of field" in an ultra-wide angle lens refers to an optical aberration where the plane of focus is not flat, meaning the image edges appear blurry while the center remains sharp, which is a common issue with wide angle lenses, especially when the focal length is very short (ultra wide angle), causing the image to appear slightly curved at the edges; this is a significant concern in photography as it can affect image quality, particularly in the corners of the frame. 

https://petapixel.com/2016/12/21/field-curvature-tricky-problem-photography/

I am facing same camera focusing issue’ if I compared with iPhone 14 Pro Max then picture quality and focusing more accurate than 16 pro max. So many picture noise and blur issues observed after taking pictures. Even though when capturing group photo then focus level not accurate for all faces. This problems should be solved urgent basis.

I too am unable to take simple close-ups (non-macro) with 16 Pro, and am on the verge of what I might call FEAR, as this ability is a necessity in today’s digital world!

I have thought I simply got a bad phone, though am somewhat relieved to see this forum.

I hope Apple can fix with software updates!

Hi, I think many people don’t understand some fundamentals of camera lenses and optics. All lenses focus to infinity, but they also have a minimum focus distance as well.

My 50mm (1X) for full frame digital focuses down to about 18” and my 24mm (.5X) focuses to about 12” and 14mm focus down to about 8”

My iPhone 16 PM 1X lens is similar to my 50mm Canon lenses, focusing at about 18”. The .5X lens exceeds the near focus capability focusing down to about 6”. 

Some feel there’s a sharpness issue. The 13mm lens at 6” is not that sharp and the corners are soft. However, this is typical of all ultra wide angle lenses. 

Apple seems to have changed the near focus distance for the 24mm 1X lens. If it’s actually a design change in the lens, no software update will matter. Apple could possibly change the focus algorithm and force the lens to focus closer, but the results may not be acceptably sharp. 

I can confirm my wife’s 15 PM at 24mm (1X) focuses sharply at about 14”, maybe closer. 

The last two posters are claiming closeup photos. I’ve posted numerous extremely sharp handheld shots too. Your point?

New posters obviously aren’t reading the thread. One I responded to claims had the camera replaced. I find it hard to believe a replacement camera isn’t sharp.

Major YouTube reviewers aren’t noting it either. Shayne Mostyn that noticed the blue streaks and acknowledged Apple fixed it with an iOS release has said nothing about any sharpness issues.

Closeup focus has changed, but at the distance the 1X focuses, images are sharp. People just aren’t understanding that close focus has changed on the 1X. It does not focus as close as prior versions. My wife’s iPhone 15 Pro Max focuses 2 to 3 inches closer than my 16 PM. Both are on 18.3.1. The 1X on the 16 PM just does focus as close. It never will. Future models probably won’t either. Apple is relying on the .5X for macro now that it’s 48 MP.

Absolutely true. Apple Support sent me to the nearest Apple Store, guy at the store acknowledged the issue, could not help, saw that the 16 Pros at the store have the same issue and that my son’s 13 Pro takes clearer pictures, told me to contact phone support again and tell them that I posted on this forum and did not receive help, support now wants me to do a screen recording … blabla.

This makes no sense. I know how to take a picture, even with an analog medium format camera. Very disappointing! They should find a solution or offer a trade in for the 17 Pros (assuming a better camera).

This isn’t Apple Support. No one here is an advisor and can put images into anyone’s hands. This is a user to user community and always has been. 😀

It’s mostly me too’s and no proof. This thread has gone from macro doesn’t work, to it can’t take a sharp photo at any zoom to now you’re claiming it is not sharp when it’s approximately 1:1 on a screen.

Again, I’ll disagree. I’ll take some images into Lightroom Classic, magnify the pixels 1:1 and do some screenshots. They’ll be sharp, too.

Thank you. What distance were you? You said normal distance. What is that exactly? To a landscape photographer, it’s probably 20+ meters, to a street photographer maybe 10 meters, to a portrait photographer maybe 5 meters or less, to a still life photographer maybe 1 to 2 meters, but to a closeup or macro photographer what is normal?

Did you bother reading my post of May 4th where I explained iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max don’t focus as close as previous models? I also explained how if macro switching is enabled, the switch to 13mm .5X lens happens further from the subject.

Apple changed the specs, it’s just different from prior models. You said it should be simple to use under normal conditions. I’d say, macro photography is not normal for the millions that make up the vast majority of iPhone users. Normal iPhone users take pictures of friends, their trips, scenery, sunsets, the times of their lives. Normal to the vast majority is not being 10 centimeters from their subjects.

I really appreciate your effort, but it is not that complicated:

A4 is 21 x 29,7 cm. I opened the 1x camera und photographed the whole page like a thousand times before at about 25 cm distance.

I understand that the minimum focus distance has changed due to a larger sensor. But honestly I don’t care. I expect that my iPhone takes sharp photos by either switching to the 0.5x ultra wide angle camera for macro sooner or getting proper focus with the 1x.

Hello guys, I hace the sane issue… I only had iphone 6 s plus, 7 plus and now I got my all new 16 pro max.. and I can tell you this without any doubt: my old 7 plus camera wipes the floor with the 16 pro max.. I’m not a professional photographer but I’ve always taken pictures all the time with my previous phone.. I’m SO dissapointed, you can’t imagine… Im from Argentina and I don’t know about you guys but I had to work my As$ off to get the money to buy this piece of junk with a 2004 camera on it… so I dont know what will happen in the future…

More proof iPhone 16 Pro Max takes blurry photos

Last comparison:

Here’s a better shot I just took. I put a tape measure in the scene (inches). The image below is larger than life size or 1:1