How to avoid blurry images caused by a bug on Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+

Samsung has recently acknowledged an issue with the Galaxy S23 and S23+ cameras, which has been causing blurry photos for some users. The company has promised to release a software fix for the issue later this year. In this article, we will discuss the issue in detail, including what causes it, how it affects users, and what Samsung is doing to fix it.

The Issue

The issue with the Galaxy S23 and S23+ cameras has been dubbed the “banana blur” due to the shape of the blur that appears in affected photos. The issue seems to be related to the rear wide-angle camera on the devices, which has a bright aperture and a small focusing area. This can cause the background to appear blurry when taking close-up shots.

Affected users have reported that the blur appears as a “banana-shaped blur” around the subject of the photo, particularly when shooting subjects up close. The issue seems to be more prevalent when taking photos in landscape orientation, and it affects both the Galaxy S23 and S23+ models.

The Impact

The blurry photos issue has been a source of frustration for many Galaxy S23 and S23+ users. The issue affects the quality of photos taken with the devices, particularly when taking close-up shots. It can also make it difficult to capture clear and detailed photos of subjects, which can be a problem for users who rely on their phones for photography.

Here are some ways that this issue affects Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ close-up shots 

• The area around the subject looks blurred when taking a close-up shot.
• The issue is caused by the rear wide-angle camera on the S23 and S23+ having a bright aperture and a small focusing area.
• The blur appears as a “banana-shaped blur” around the subject of the photo, particularly when shooting subjects up close.
• The issue seems to be more prevalent when taking photos in landscape orientation.
• The Galaxy S23 Ultra is not affected by this issue, likely because it uses a different, 200MP primary sensor, while the S23 and S23 Plus share the same 50MP primary camera.
• The issue can make it difficult to capture clear and detailed photos of subjects. This can be a problem for users who rely on their phones for photography.

Samsung’s Response

Samsung has acknowledged the issue and has promised to release a software fix for affected devices later this year. The company has not provided a specific timeline for the release of the fix. But it is expected to be included in a future software update. The fix is expected to address the issue by adjusting the camera’s focusing area to reduce the amount of blur in affected photos. 

Samsung says

“When testing the capabilities of the S23 or S23 Plus’s camera, you may have been caught by the fact that when you take a close-up photo, the area around the subject looks a bit blurry. That’s because the rear wide-angle camera on the S23 and S23 Plus has a bright aperture, which helps when taking photos in the dark. However, it also means that more noticeable selective focus can make the background of your photos look a bit blurry”.

If you hold your phone horizontally or obliquely, the background may appear blurry,” the company adds.

There is no specific date announced by Samsung for the global release of the software fix for blurry photos on Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+. However, Samsung has confirmed that it will issue a fix later in the year. Some sources suggest that the fix will be included in the May 2023 security update. But this has not been confirmed by Samsung.

At the moment, there is no report on the global release of an update for this issue. However, Samsung releases monthly updates for its high-end phones. The bug – fixing update may either come as one of these monthly updates or as a special standalone update. The reports of the issue seems to be widespread. Thus, it is likely that the software fix for this issue will be available globally for affected devices.

How to avoid the issue in the meantime

If you are experiencing the camera issue on Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ when taking close-up shots, here are some workarounds that you can try until the software fix is released:

• Try stepping back so that the camera can properly focus with the added distance.
• Turn the phone vertically to reduce the amount of blur in affected photos.
• Use the ultra-wide camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which switches to the ultra-wide camera and uses the Focus enhancer mode when taking close-up or macro shots, and is not affected by this issue.
• Use 50MP or 200MP mode to reduce the amount of blur in affected photos.

It is important to note that these workarounds may not completely solve the issue. But they can help reduce the amount of blur in affected photos until the software fix is released.

Conclusion

The Galaxy S23 and S23+ are excellent devices with many great features, including their cameras. However, the blurry photo issue has been a source of frustration for many users. Samsung has acknowledged the issue and has promised to release a software fix for affected devices later this year. In the meantime, affected users can try stepping back or turning the phone vertically. This will help to reduce the amount of blur in their photos. We will keep an eye out for any updates on the issue. We will also let you know and provide further info as it becomes available.

Samsung may or may not inform users when there is a fix for this camera issue. Therefore, we advise that users regularly check for updates on their devices manually. Or they can wait for the notification to appear on their devices. They can also follow Samsung’s social media accounts or visit Samsung’s website for updates.