Pixelation and line artifacts in iPhone 15 camera photos

Hey everyone. I have started getting weird artifacts when taking photos. Don’t mind the part where person is hidden, I just wanted to anonymize photo. Spec is as follows: iPhone 15, iOS version is 18.6.2. Sometimes it looks like weird pixelation and other there are visible lines that separate more saturated and brighter parts. It started recently and it is present on a couple of photos that I took.


[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: Camera photos artifacts

iPhone 15

Posted on Sep 28, 2025 2:37 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 28, 2025 6:40 AM

I would say you probably have intermittent hardware failure on your camera sensor.

You could pre-empt an Apple repair shop visit by backing up, erasing the phone and setting up from scratch (no backup) and see if it still does it.

If you have a Mac you could create a backup on that and archive it. If you use iCloud

backup, turn it off as soon as you set up the phone again.


There is some risk so ensure you learn how to perform this.


Back up iPhone - Apple Support


Erase iPhone - Apple Support


Set up your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)


 

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 28, 2025 6:40 AM in response to przemek16

I would say you probably have intermittent hardware failure on your camera sensor.

You could pre-empt an Apple repair shop visit by backing up, erasing the phone and setting up from scratch (no backup) and see if it still does it.

If you have a Mac you could create a backup on that and archive it. If you use iCloud

backup, turn it off as soon as you set up the phone again.


There is some risk so ensure you learn how to perform this.


Back up iPhone - Apple Support


Erase iPhone - Apple Support


Set up your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)


 

Sep 30, 2025 11:15 AM in response to przemek16

With that new information you may be right. However as this seems to be your phone only, I would still go through the process of setting up as a vanilla device and see if that stops it, to eliminate any of your apps.

I hope you are fully signed up to iCloud photos etc as it makes it a lot easier to set up again from scratch.

Add back your favourite apps as you need them.

If you have mac update the phone to the next iOs when released in Finder so you replace the whole firmware.


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Pixelation and line artifacts in iPhone 15 camera photos

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.