Level 1

40 points

iPhone 7 front camera flickering HDR during FaceTime

Today i have recieved my new iPhone 7. During a FaceTime call my video was constantly changing from bright to dark. When i moved the camera focus (early evening brightness) to a bright light just behind me the HDR processing does nog seem to know the correct brightness levels. This caused flickering of my camera image from bright to dark. Not a very nice way of having a FaceTime conversation. Does anyone else have the same issues? Does this need to be resolved in a software fix or can the auto HDR mode be disabled somehow?

iPhone 7, iOS 10, Updated to latest iOS

Posted on Sep 16, 2016 2:01 PM

99 replies

Kekko70

Level 1

8 points

Dec 12, 2016 5:58 AM in response to Vickynick

Same issue here in Spain. iPhone 7

Is there anyone from Apple reading these comments?

Did anybody try with one of the latest betas if the problem has been resolved with the next update?

fluteboy

Level 1

39 points

Dec 12, 2016 2:21 PM in response to sue888

Here is the email I sent to Tim Cook:

Whenever I use FaceTime, either on Wifi or cellular, my image flickers, light to dark. I see it and the person I am video ing sees it. I have an iPhone 7 on Verizon. I restored the software, set up phone as new and that didn't help,. Had a Genius Bar appointment where it was decided that maybe the camera was defective, so they replaced the display, set up phone as new and problem still happened. So they gave me a replacement phone and I just set it up as new and the problem still persists. (Here is one stream online talking about the same issue: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7669193?start=0&tstart=0).

I have since spoken to an Apple specialist who handed my off to a senior advisor. First it was thought to be a software issue, then hardware issue. So I was told to go back to my local AppleStore for a second replacement phone. The manager opened a replacement phone and we tried FaceTime on it and it had the exact SAME problem. Not only that, but the store’s phone and an employee’s phone all showed the same issue.

So, they took notes and were convinced it is indeed a software issue, as apparently Skype and WhatsApp do not have this flickering issue.

I would appreciate you letting me know if this is a known issue to you and if this very annoying problem can/will be fixed with a software update. I never had the issue on my iPhone 6 or 6s or 5 or 4, so it is definitely related to the new phone.

As I have said, I have been a loyal Apple customer for years, ever since the original iPhone in 2007 and this flickering issue has not appeared on ANY of my other phones since FaceTime appeared. I cannot recommend the iPhone 7 to any of my colleagues or friends because of this continuing annoying issue and in fact, I’ve had to stop using FaceTime on my phone. I now only use my iPad or laptop.

I would really appreciate knowing that this issue is being worked on and that a solution is hopefully imminent. It’s been months with the new iPhone and all I can do is wait for the iPhone 8 to come out next year and hope that this issue no longer appears.

I have spoken to numerous people at Apple and this issue remains unresolved.

Can anything be done?

Dec 12, 2016 9:20 PM in response to Vickynick

We are having the same problem with our new iPhone 7 plus. We just got them last week. So infuriating!!! Apple seems to make more junk than state of the art like they used to. My husband is Deaf and we have to use FaceTime for phone calls and he uses it with friends too. His FaceTime goes back and forth light and dark. How can anyone see his signs??? We pay a lot of money for these phone and Apple is zero help. Waste of time!! Also they still aren't admitting a problem, which means where is the fix??? May need to return it and get the new Google Phone... I'm starting to dislike Apple very much

knaumax

Level 1

4 points

Dec 12, 2016 11:04 PM in response to Misspolly

Did you see the release notes of iOS 10.2?

I mean it's not specifically containing the keyword "brightness" but anyway it could be the fix...

Fixes an issue that could cause FaceTime participants to appear out of focus

Fixes an issue that could cause FaceTime calls to appear with incorrect aspect ratio and orientation

Dec 15, 2016 6:12 AM in response to knaumax

iOS 10.2 seems to have fixed this problem for me 🙂

fluteboy

Level 1

39 points

Dec 20, 2016 5:36 PM in response to mingyao01

Yes, 10.2 seems to have fixed the problem for me, too. Let's hope it holds.

Dec 25, 2016 12:13 AM in response to Vickynick

Ok so I am having the same issue as all of you but I'm not seeing any Solutions for the problem is there any?????

Deller78

Level 1

4 points

Dec 27, 2016 7:34 PM in response to Dragon2630

Go to settings

Then Display

And turn off auto brightness

anahmani

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2017 3:26 AM in response to Deller78

This seemed to have worked! Thanks for that. Silly fix cause i like auto brightness but if this works - im grateful and will keep it off.

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iPhone 7 front camera flickering HDR during FaceTime