iPhone 16 Pro Max poor selfie quality, pixels on the background

What you’re describing as pixels, is actually noise. It’s common in all digital cameras in low light levels. You can reduce noise by making the room brighter such opening window shades, turning on room lights or adding a light or two to the background.

All cameras, including very expensive mirrorless and dSLR’s produce noise in shadows. My iPhone 12 Pro Max had noise in shadows. So consider yourself fortunate that yours didn’t have noise. The solution is to add more light. It works with any camera.

Your 16 Pro Max should still be under warranty. I’d urge you to make an appointment at an Apple Store and have them inspect your iPhone and front facing camera. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call  1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada call 1-800-263-3394

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Hi,

Here’s a front facing camera (selfie) photo I took with my iPhone 16 PM just a few minutes ago. I’m looking directly into an open window. It’s a cloudy day, but my settings are f/1.9, 1/60 second shutter speed and ISO 100. None of the settings can be directly charged. But adding more light lowers the ISO, which reduces the noise.

If you zoom into the back you don’t see noise. Black hides the noise and the open window lowered the ISO to 100.

You didn't include any exposure details for that particular shot, but in addition to Jeff's advice, also try shooting at maximum (widest) aperture which allows in more light to the sensor. Wide apertures also give a shallower depth-of-field which softens (blurs) the background. A very common technique for portrait photography.

Hey Jeff, exactly my point about choosing to shoot with a wider aperture - that is to allow more light to reach the sensor. In selfie Portrait mode on my Xr (v18.6.2) I have the option to override the aperture chosen by the phone. Doing so, without changing the ISO, also increases the shutter speed. Will that reduce background noise? I don't know. I don't own an iPhone 16, nor do I have access to, or want access to, the original file to scrutinize. I'm assuming I'm looking at web versions? I'm also making the assumption the camera, hardware, and software on her phone is at the very least just as sophisticated as what's on my Xr. I'm sure hoping it's better. Cheers.