Apple will be fixing the BeautyGate issue surrounding the front camera of the iPhone XS and iPhone XR with the upcoming iOS 12.1 update.
This piece of information was a part of The Verge’s review of the iPhone XR.
Ever since the iPhone XS series has hit the hands of the consumers, there have been complaints of the front camera on the devices taking selfies with all details washed away. It seemed like the photos had a beauty filter or skin smoothening effect applied, something which is common on devices from Chinese Android OEMs.
This beauty filter effect did not occur on the iPhone X post the iOS 12 update so many blamed it on Apple’s new Smart HDR algorithm which is exclusive to its 2018 iPhone lineup.
Many believed that the BeautyGate effect was occuring because the Smart HDR algorithm was trying to keep noise in check in selfies which led to it washing away all the details.
Apple has so far been silent on BeautyGate and did not make any official statement about it despite all the outcry. It did, however, confirm in an e-mailed response to an iPhone XS owner that it is looking into the issue.
While Apple has not yet confirmed what exactly is the issue behind BeautyGate or even made an official public statement, it has atleast confirmed to The Verge that the issue will be addressed with the upcoming iOS 12.1 update.
Apple said it will pick up a sharper base frame for Smart HDR which should address the BeautyGate issues with the front camera.
As to why the issue occured in the first place? Here’s what The Verge says in its iPhone XR review:
Essentially, Smart HDR was choosing the wrong base frame for HDR processing when you took a selfie. Instead of choosing a frame with a short shutter speed to freeze motion and preserve detail, it would sometimes choose a frame with longer shutter speed. The front camera also does not have optical image stabilization, so it takes blurrier shots at the same shutter speed as the rear, stabilized camera. The result is a loss of detail that looks like smoothing on the front camera.
It is good to see Apple address the BeautyGate issue with the upcoming iOS 12.1 update as this will please a lot of selfie lovers.
