So, we are for the 4th time when same Quad Bayers get recycled by Apple without much changes, just now we have three of them.
I've long had a "hobby" where I would compare camera quality of different iPhones, and whenever I get opportunity to hunt for real samples from real phones or even take these samples myself, I would gladly do that. This time specifically for the reason of trying to justify the upgrade, and currently I see only disadvantages. Tbh I expected Apple to tone down that processing, not double down on it. Maybe it is just me being too negative though, not trying to offend anyone.
I had been scavenging thru the web for real video and photo samples of new iPhones. Checked every site possible, and if only I could say "nah I don't believe these reviewers, they have certainly made those pics with some older digicams and said these are from iPhone!", NOPE. Vice versa, many samples share same weird defect especially visible in videos: blurriness. Looks like this year Apple increased noise reduction even more.
It is not like super blurry but feels off, like HDR defect or something. Also it feels like it was already high time for Apple to step up and improve this poor lens design. Portrait mode is NOT bokeh and never will be, there should be natural lens bokeh of some sort, older iPhones were totally capable of good bokeh, the best I've seen so far was on 12 and 13 series (from newer ones) and 4, 5, 5s, 6, 7 from older ones. The worst (what I've personally experienced) was on 16 Pro and (looks like that) 17 Pro too, looks cheap.
Yes, I even watched iJustine video! Despite her being criticized over "highly pro-Apple position", video samples are real. You can
watch and see for yourself. Some commenters on YouTube even expressed opinions that it seems she is barely covering her disappointment with the latest iPhones and simply does her job: reviews the phone.
And as I said, issue is definitely in processing. We can brag for ages about "tiny smartphone sensors", but the issue is not in sensors, it is the processing you cannot undo, unless you are into RAW, ProRAW and such (which takes a lot of time and effort). Maybe my description is not actually very precise, not "blurry" but more like "cheap-looking". I am well-aware of newcomers such as Camac app that can be paired with something like Lightroom or RAW Power and you can get the exact look you want, but it all takes a lot of time AND resolution: Apple never tells you that camera will still output 12 MP "true RAW" images (do not confuse with ProRAW which is already pre-processed). But you know what's fun? These 12MP edited RAWs will still look better than what comera does on its own, even in 48MP (or better to say, especially in 48MP, given how reliant Quad Bayer is on computations and software).
Forums (just some random examples:
1,
2,
3) have been full of users saying that iPhone camera processing has gotten out of hand in the last 10 years or so. All these "photonic engines" and HDR capabilities often can ruin photos instead of making them better. Even some
YouTubers are now voicing their legitimate concerns.
Asking both owners of new phones and owners of older ones: do you feel like iPhone camera could have used better processing on images or is it "all good"? Do you have a feeling that sometimes images come out less sharp than from your older phone, or less sharp than you would have liked them to be, or that phone doesn't take reality as-is but more like computational interpretation of said reality? (awkward shadows where they shouldn't be, strange lighting artifacts when you shoot magenta sunset and it comes out orange and bland, even shutter lags due to said processing).
‼️HUGE UPDATE
I've done my own review of
iPhone 17 Pro Max camera.
To be honest I am impressed with the quality of SOOC 24MP HEIF images.
BUT I've actually encountered this blurriness. Not a single YouTube blogger or tech influencer spoke about that issue.
Good thing is that it is an easy fix. Bad thing - honestly why Apple would even do that???
The issue happens when you are trying to shoot thru the window, any type of window - clear or tinted. And for some reason iPhone fails to calculate depth with LIDAR sensor. Sometimes you can fix that by forcing PDAF by covering LIDAR sensor (huge black dot near flash) with your finger or a piece of duct tape.
This might complicate some shooting scenarios where you expect autofocus to work instantly, like when you take a bus ride and want to shoot from the window, or in the passenger's seat in a car. This is why Air and regular 17 might take better images at times.
Also I liked the color science and toned down HDR, they look much closer to life now. Noise reduction also seems to be A LOT better than any previous model ever since 11 Pro. You don't even need Halide anymore for more or less natural shots, SOOC images from Camera app actually shine.
However I would like Apple to do something with iOS 26. It is plain awful and slow. Even on a flagship device. How come???
