Google Pixel smartphone users have reported that some photos suffer from lens flare or halo effect. Google has confirmed the issue and has promised a software fix in the coming weeks.
Google launched its ‘Made by Google’ smartphones Pixel and Pixel XL earlier this month. One of the key features of the smartphones is its cameras which Google could not stop talking about at the launch event. The reviews on the camera performance of the Pixel smartphones have been positive so far. However, a few users of the smartphones have complained about a ‘halo effect’ or lens flare which appears on photos clicked using the Pixel and Pixel XL. After users reported about the issue, Google acknowledged the problem and said that it is working on a fix for it.
YouTuber Jeff Springer has a detailed video on how the lens flare/halo effect appears on the photos. He uses the Pixel XL 32GB smartphone and shows how the effect takes place. In one photo, taken at his studio, he shows how he uses two sources of light – one placed at the ceiling and the other, his TV. The lens flare appears just above the light bulb on the ceiling. He took another photo of the same location with the light bulb turned off and only the TV turned off. Even after doing so, the lens flare appeared at the bottom and on top as well. To confirm if this is the Pixel XL’s camera problem or if there is some lighting issue, he took the same photo with an LG V20 smartphone. There was no halo effect or lens flare seen on the photo taken by the LG V20.
He further said that this lighting effect problem is not encountered on his other Pixel smartphone, so the problem could persist on some units only. The problem he says could be with the placing of the camera module on the 2.5D back glass panel. If the glass panel of the Pixel XL smartphone has any contact with dust, it could cause an issue to the camera lens as even the glass is very reflective. Phandroid has also reported that the lens flare issue is persistent and even compared photos taken by an iPhone 7 and an Honor 8 to prove that the issue does exist.
In line with what Springer said, the publication also suspects that the 2.5D back glass panel could be the reason behind the problem. Since the camera lens sits exactly where the glass panel starts to bend, it could be causing any source of light to refract and cause the lens flare. Also, it is known that lens flares do happen in every camera, but some of the photos were taken in low lighting conditions and the lens flare still appeared. ALSO READ: Google Pixel XL 32GB variant costs $285 to manufacture: IHS Markit
Many Pixel users have even reported and posted the issue on Google Pixel’s Community Page. There was even a Reddit poll held to find out if there are other Pixel smartphones with the same issue. The poll led to 59 users voting ‘yes’ for the lens flare issue and 70 users voting ‘no.’
However, as mentioned above, Google is already looking into the matter and has confirmed the issue on the Pixel User Community forum. Google has also assured that a software fix will be available soon, and will be rolled out in the coming weeks. AndroidAuthority reports that Pixel users will however need to use the HDR+ feature for the new fix to work. Users would have to wait for the software update to see if the issue is fixed or not. ALSO READ: Google Pixel smartphones are not waterproof because Google ‘ran out of time’