iPhone 14 Pro Max 14 pro max spots on camera sensor (2nd repair). How come?

[OSXphoto]

Hi photographers,

My iPhone 14 Pro Max is two years old now. The 3x lens shows 4 spots, see pics. The same thing happened when the unit was one year old.

Both times Apple fixed it by replacing the entire camera module, free of charge. That is nice, but if it happens twice it can happen again so I'm wondering if I did something wrong, something I shouldn't, something unfortunate. Maybe too much light came in, I don't know.

Could you have a look and share your thoughts?

Thanks so much!

 

[FlyingDutch]

Could be dust under the lens. If they replace the sensor maybe there is a failed sealing in the camera module that lets dust come in.

 

[OSXphoto]

Could be indeed. What intrigues me is the three dots on the right are on a straight line and spaced evenly. Would seem too much of a coincidence for dust particles to land in this pattern.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Could be indeed. What intrigues me is the three dots on the right are on a straight line and spaced evenly. Would seem too much of a coincidence for dust particles to land in this pattern.

If there is an “open spot” in the enclosure, the dust could be forced to enter in a specific way.

 

[OSXphoto]

could be. pivotal question in that case is how dust can enter the camera enclosure in the first place. And twice, each with a new (and different) camera unit. This is now my third camera unit. I hope this one will last spot-free as least as long as the phone itself will last.

 

[OSXphoto]

Could be dust under the lens. If they replace the sensor maybe there is a failed sealing in the camera module that lets dust come in.

maybe. But the first time this happened to the original camera unit, factory fresh.
I might consider taking measures to drop my phone less frequently. Not that it happens daily, but it does happen.