Apple Service Nightmare: Camera Issue Still Unresolved

I’m at my wit’s end dealing with a persistent camera flickering issue on my iPhone. Despite multiple trips to the service center and part replacements, the issue remains unresolved. Here’s the full story:

The Issue:
The camera flickers when zooming in, even during normal video recording, not just when zooming fast. The flickering disrupts recordings and affects day-to-day use. I first noticed this during casual video recording, and it’s been verified by an Apple technician who tested it against other devices.

The Service Saga:

  • I’ve visited the service center 10-15 times over the past few weeks.
  • The center is 20 km away, and diagnostics close at 6 PM, leaving me no choice but to sacrifice weekends.
  • Apple replaced the camera module, logic board, and battery after multiple tests and diagnostics.
  • After 10 days without my phone, I got it back—only to find the issue still persists.
  • The technician acknowledged the issue but stated they couldn’t do more, recommending I contact Apple Support directly.

Emotional Toll:
This ordeal has drained me mentally and emotionally. I’ve lost countless weekends, my work has been disrupted, and I feel completely defeated.

What I’ve Tried:

  • Contacted Apple Support.
  • Submitted evidence (video recordings of the issue).
  • Tested the issue on sales unit devices, none of which exhibited the same problem.

What I Need:
I’m hoping to escalate this issue to a higher level within Apple for a permanent solution. I can’t continue spending weekends dealing with this. Has anyone faced a similar situation or successfully resolved a persistent issue like this? Any advice on how to escalate or handle this further would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading and for any guidance you can offer.

If I zoom in super quickly, it makes the same flickering effect. This happens because the lens can’t adjust exposure as fast as you’re zooming. This might not be an issue with the phone.

Ellis said:
If I zoom in super quickly, it makes the same flickering effect. This happens because the lens can’t adjust exposure as fast as you’re zooming. This might not be an issue with the phone.

I think the phone is fine. OP might just be overly focused on this.

Ellis said:
If I zoom in super quickly, it makes the same flickering effect. This happens because the lens can’t adjust exposure as fast as you’re zooming. This might not be an issue with the phone.

It’s not just when zooming fast. The problem happens during normal video recording as well.

Why not just call Apple Support directly? You could’ve done an express replacement instead of all this back-and-forth.

Brennan said:
Why not just call Apple Support directly? You could’ve done an express replacement instead of all this back-and-forth.

[deleted]

Lennon said:

Brennan said:
Why not just call Apple Support directly? You could’ve done an express replacement instead of all this back-and-forth.

[deleted]

I contacted Apple Support, and they told me to go through all these steps first. That’s why I had to submit the device multiple times.

Lennon said:

Brennan said:
Why not just call Apple Support directly? You could’ve done an express replacement instead of all this back-and-forth.

[deleted]

Try using the Apple Support app. Request a callback and explain your situation directly to a representative. They often have more authority to resolve complex issues. I recently had my AirPods replaced, and the app team was super helpful. Good luck!

@Blake
I’ve already done this. After following their advice and submitting the device, it took 10 days, and the issue wasn’t resolved. I now have another callback scheduled, but I expect they’ll just ask me to submit the device again. It’s a never-ending cycle.

@Zariah
In that case, demand a loaner device. Explain the mental stress this is causing you. Apple does offer loaners in some cases.

Blake said:
@Zariah
In that case, demand a loaner device. Explain the mental stress this is causing you. Apple does offer loaners in some cases.

The service center near me doesn’t offer loaner devices, and going to another center would mean starting the whole process from scratch. It’s exhausting.

This sounds like the camera version of testing app animations by repeatedly opening and closing them. You’re pushing the system beyond its designed use case. There will always be flickering when switching between lenses. Do you have OCD?

To those saying this isn’t a real issue: the flickering happens even during normal video recording, not just during fast zooms. The technician confirmed it, and Apple replaced parts because the problem is real. If it were trivial, they wouldn’t have acknowledged it. Try replicating this on your phone—I guarantee you won’t see the same behavior.