“My footage suffers from heat distortion, particularly under bright daylight or when filming in sunlight, creating a shimmer similar to heat rising from asphalt.”
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 16 Pro Max
You’re welcome! I’ve seen it before. It’s the stabilization unit in that specific lens/camera. It can’t lock and the high pitched whine is produced by the stabilization unit. They’ll need to replace the camera module. Just show it to an Apple Store Genius and they’ll swap out your iPhone.
Just as an after thought, I have seen very strong magnets used near the cameras produce a similar effect. Are you using a gimbal when filming?
You’re welcome! I’ve seen it before. It’s the stabilization unit in that specific lens/camera. It can’t lock and the high pitched whine is produced by the stabilization unit. They’ll need to replace the camera module. Just show it to an Apple Store Genius and they’ll swap out your iPhone.
Just as an after thought, I have seen very strong magnets used near the cameras produce a similar effect. Are you using a gimbal when filming?
When the shimmering is occurring there is also a high pitched whine I can hear. I suspect the image stabilization is having mechanical or electromechanical issues.
Please have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.
If you’re in the US please call 1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below.
Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
📱Facing iPhone heating issues? Here's what worked for me on my iPhone 12 Pro:
1️⃣ Backup on iCloud/iTunes
2️⃣ Log out of Apple ID
3️⃣ Erase (Keep eSIM Data)
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✅ No hardware/ iOS issue
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📦 Restore data gradually
🔍 Find app/settings causing heat
My experience says this is purely caused by some third-party app that you may have installed.
I am not aware of the ambient temperature in which you are using the iPhone. However --> Keeping iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch within acceptable ...
Store the device where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Don’t leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.
Use iOS devices where the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). Low- or high-temperature conditions might cause the device to change its behavior to regulate its temperature. Using an iOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range might temporarily shorten battery life and could cause the device to turn off. Battery life will return to normal when you bring the device back to higher ambient temperatures. Using an iOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life.
Please post an example or a link to a video displaying the anomaly.
Thanks for your reaction.
“My iPhone is not overheating at all, but when I open the camera app, I can already see a strange shimmering or wavy distortion in the live preview — even before I start recording. It becomes more noticeable when I move the phone slightly or aim at distant objects. This effect is not visible to the naked eye, only through the camera. It looks like an issue with the optical image stabilization or internal lens system, not something caused by heat or post-processing.”
Thanks for your message and suggestion. I actually contacted Apple Support earlier today — they performed remote diagnostics and confirmed there were no hardware issues detected. The shimmering effect only appears when filming outdoors, not indoors, and it disappears when switching to the 0.5x ultra-wide lens. So far, it only seems to affect the main lens. Apple is currently investigating the issue further and will follow up with me soon. I appreciate your input!
Thanks again! That’s really helpful to know. I’m not using a gimbal or any magnetic accessories, so that shouldn’t be a factor. Based on what you described, it does sound like a hardware issue with the stabilization unit in the main lens. I’ll wait for Apple to follow up with their findings, but if needed I’ll definitely visit a Genius Bar to have the camera module checked or replaced. Appreciate your insight!
Here is the link: https://youtube.com/shorts/T0VXKcQDSVY?si=Qs2mcjah-aOuNJPH
You’re welcome and I hope you have a great weekend!
Photos taken from iPhone 16 Pro camera have shimmering effect
