Apple to Reportedly Release Software Fix for iPhone Air & iPhone 17 Pro Camera Glitch

Apple has confirmed a camera bug affecting the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro that causes “black boxes” and “white squiggles” to appear in some photos. The issue was spotted by a news agency during a review of the iPhone Air. 

Apple Acknowledges Camera Glitch on iPhone Air & 17 Pro

It occurs particularly when shooting concert or event scenes with very bright LED light displays pointed directly at the camera. According to sources one in every 10 photos under such conditions shows these visual artifacts. 

Apple’s Response and Planned Fix

• Apple has confirmed that it has developed a software fix for the issue.

• The fix will be rolled out via an upcoming software update. However, Apple has not specified when the update will be released. 

• The company notes that this bug is rare, happening only in “very rare cases” when an LED display is extremely bright and directly in view. 

About the Affected Devices & Other Specifications

iPhone Air

• The device is Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet at 5.6 mm. It uses 80 percent recycled titanium and features Ceramic Shield 2 for improved durability. 

• Display: 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with 120Hz ProMotion. 

• Camera setup: 48-megapixel main rear camera; front-facing camera of 18-megapixels. 

• Battery/video playback: Up to 27 hours video playback on single charge. 

• Pricing in India: Rs. 1,19,900 (256 GB), Rs. 1,39,900 (512 GB), and Rs. 1,59,900 (1 TB). Available in Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue.

iPhone 17 Pro

• New unibody aluminium design with full-width camera plateau, replacing the titanium build of past Pro models. Vapour chamber cooling system introduced. 

• Display: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR, 120Hz, and peak brightness 3,000 nits. Protected also by Ceramic Shield 2.

• Camera: Triple rear 48-megapixels (including an 8x telephoto lens), front 18-megapixels. Runs iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence features. 

• Price in India: Rs. 1,34,900 (256 GB), Rs. 1,54,900 (512 GB), Rs. 1,74,900 (1 TB). Colour options: Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver. 

What Users Can Do Until the Fix Arrives

• Avoid pointing the camera directly at very bright LED screens or displays, especially at concerts or events where stage lighting is intense. 

• Check if affected photos can be edited as Live Photos or different exposure settings—some of the artefacts may be less visible depending on framing. (Note: no official workaround confirmed yet) 

Conclusion

While the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro are being welcomed for their impressive specs—display, build, camera capabilities—this camera bug highlights the challenges that computational photography still faces in edge cases like high-intensity LED lighting.

Apple’s admission that the problem is “very rare” and its commitment to patch via software are reassuring, especially given the value of the affected devices.

For buyers, this bug need not be a deal-breaker, but is something to be aware of, particularly for users who frequently shoot concerts or events. Once the software update arrives, it should restore full confidence in the camera performance of these flagship phones.