Did iOS18.2 really fix this "within spec" problem?

Summary

The iPhone 16's latest iOS 18.2 update addresses a frustrating issue with night mode astrophotography, specifically the blue lines that plagued users since its release. After testing the update, the issue seems resolved, with improved photo quality even at high ISO levels like 8000. The speaker compares the results with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, showing the iPhone 16's superior performance. The update restores iPhone 16’s capability for clear, sharp astrophotos, making it a worthwhile improvement for night mode photography enthusiasts.

Takeaways

• 😀 The iPhone 16's iOS 18.2 update aims to fix the 'blue lines' issue that affected night mode photos in astrophotography.
• 😀 The blue lines issue became particularly noticeable in astrophotography, leading to degraded photos since the phone's launch.
• 😀 The reviewer tests the update by capturing astrophotography shots in a dark environment, with minimal light sources and some moving clouds.
• 😀 After testing, the iPhone 16's performance in night mode is significantly better post-update, with sharper images and fewer artifacts.
• 😀 The issue previously triggered at high ISO settings, particularly in dark conditions, resulting in unusable blue lines on photos.
• 😀 The iPhone 16 Pro now takes clearer astrophotography photos with high ISO settings (ISO 8000), without the blue line issue.
• 😀 A direct comparison with the iPhone 15 Pro Max shows the iPhone 16 capturing more detail in stars and producing a cleaner image.
• 😀 The ISO in the iPhone 16 Pro's test shot was set to 5000, and despite the high ISO, no blue lines appeared on the image.
• 😀 The update resolves the problem for most users, but there are still concerns about potentially faulty sensors in some units.
• 😀 Despite previous claims from Apple that the issue was 'within spec,' the update now seems to fix what was previously described as a non-issue.
• 😀 Users experiencing the blue lines issue should update to iOS 18.2 for improved night mode astrophotography performance.

Q & A

What issue was fixed in the iPhone 16's iOS 18.2 update?

The iOS 18.2 update fixed an issue where night mode photos in the camera could appear degraded, specifically with blue lines appearing in astro photography.

How did the blue lines issue affect iPhone 16 users?

The blue lines in photos made astro photography difficult, rendering the images unusable, especially in dark conditions where high ISO settings were required.

What was the user's initial reaction to the update after testing it?

The user observed that the issue seemed much better after the update, with no visible blue lines in photos, indicating that the problem had been resolved.

How did the iPhone 16 Pro perform in the new tests compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The iPhone 16 Pro performed better, especially in dark conditions, producing sharper photos at higher ISO (up to 8,000) without blue lines, compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

What ISO level did the iPhone 16 Pro use for the dark photo that previously would have shown blue lines?

The iPhone 16 Pro used an ISO of 8,000 for the dark photo, and despite the high ISO, there were no blue lines visible in the image.

What was the previous response from Apple tech support regarding the blue lines issue?

Apple tech support previously stated that the blue lines issue was 'within spec' and there was no fix or replacement for affected devices.

How long did it take for Apple to release a fix for the blue lines issue?

It took several months for Apple to release the fix for the blue lines issue, which was addressed in the iOS 18.2 update.

Did the iPhone 16 Pro show any improvements in photos taken with foreground lighting after the update?

Yes, the iPhone 16 Pro showed improved performance in photos taken with foreground lighting, producing results similar to previous iPhone models.

What conditions were the test photos taken under to check for the blue lines?

The test photos were taken in dark conditions, including scenarios with no light at all, in order to push the phone's ISO settings and test for the presence of blue lines.

Why did the user previously reduce their astro photography with the iPhone 16?

The user had reduced their astro photography due to the persistent issue with blue lines in photos, which made it difficult to capture clear and usable images at night.