Samsung Galaxy S23 owners report drastic drop in camera quality after One UI 7 update

It seems that some Samsung Galaxy S23 series users are noticing that the latest One UI 7 update has wrecked their phone’s camera performance. What was once a standout feature on these devices now feels like a step backward, with photos coming out blurry, washed out, and lacking the sharpness users loved.

The complaints started piling up shortly after the rollout of One UI 7, which is based on Android 15. Forums like Samsung’s own community pages and Reddit threads are filled with reports from S23 users who say their cameras just aren’t the same. Pictures that used to pop with vibrant colors now look dull and over-processed, especially in everyday shots or low-light conditions. Some mention issues with long-distance scenery turning blurry, while others note a strange softening in close-ups.

One S23 owner on the Samsung community forum shared their disappointment, saying, “My samsung S23 camera quality has degraded significantly after the update. What shall I do to fix this problem. It cant capture long distance scenery and there is something like blur in photos.”

Another user also reported something similar on Reddit, noting how colors seem washed out even in bright sunlight. You can check out the images they shared in the embed below:

It’s not just about still images either. Several reports highlight lag in the camera app itself, like delays when switching between modes or from rear to front cameras. “Has anyone else noticed a delay when taking pics since OneUI7? It seems to take the pic right away, but the preview doesn’t show up for 2-3 seconds,” one frustrated Redditor posted.

These problems aren’t isolated to the base S23 model. Owners of the S23 Ultra and S23 FE are chiming in with similar gripes. For instance, on the S23 FE, night mode shots have taken a hit, with one user complaining, “The recent update of One UI 7 downgraded the camera performance of S23 FE, the camera performance especially in the night is very poor when compared to one ui 6.1.”

I did spot a few reports from users with other models like the S21 FE and the S24, however, a majority of complaints are from Galaxy S23 series users. That said, it’s possible the the One UI 7 update in general might be buggy in the camera department.

Users have tried all sorts of fixes on their own. Clearing the camera cache, resetting settings, and toggling features like Scene Optimizer haven’t helped much. Some experimented with pro mode or turning off post-processing options, but results vary. On Reddit, suggestions include disabling vibration feedback or shot suggestions to cut down on lag, but your mileage with these workarounds may vary.

Samsung hasn’t issued an official statement on this yet, but community moderators and support reps are advising people to submit error reports through the Samsung Members app. Include log files, they say, and wait for a potential patch in the next update. That’s left many owners hoping for a quick software tweak to restore what made the S23’s camera so appealing in the first place.

The camera issues add to a growing list of problems that Galaxy users have been experiencing since the One UI 7 rollout. We’ve also highlighted network and SIM card connectivity problems affecting various Galaxy devices, with users experiencing dropped calls and slow data speeds. Additionally, Bluetooth connectivity has been another major pain point, with devices failing to connect properly to headphones, speakers, and car systems.

While Samsung continues to work on addressing these issues, many users are frustrated with the overall One UI 7 experience. Beyond technical bugs, the update has also introduced controversial interface changes that have left users searching for ways to revert some of the most annoying modifications.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the update in the comment section below!