There’s a lot to like about the best iPhones for photography, not least the ease with which you can use them to get great shots.
One of the new upgrades that came with latest operating system, iOS26 was a feature that will help you get the best possible photos every time you use the camera.
Phones live in our pockets, they’re handled by our sometimes-grubby hands (especially true if you’ve got kids) and can easily pick up all manner of grease and grime. All of that can lead to less than perfect shots, and unless you’re going for a soft-focus effect, simply giving it a quick clean can make a world of difference.
Remembering to do that probably isn’t always at the front of your mind though, which is where this iPhone camera setting comes in handy.
If you head into Settings > Camera and scroll down, you should see a setting called “Lens Cleaning Hints”. Make sure this is switched on, and next time you attempt to take a photo with a grubby lens, you should be prompted with a warning to clean your lens.
Now, full disclosure, I’ve very rarely seen this appear on my iPhone 17 Pro, likely down to very good lens coatings which repel dust and dirt. However, it’s always good to have it switched on – and, older or cheaper iPhones might benefit more from it, as the coatings are likely to perform a little less well. This feature is compatible with models from the iPhone 15 onwards.
The difference a clean lens can make is pretty striking. Take a look at the photos below, the first one is taken while the lens was still dirty, the second one after it had been cleaned with a soft cloth.
In the first picture, there’s a softness and muting of colours, while the second one really pops. I might not have noticed the smudginess when quickly snapping the picture in the first instance, so having that on-screen reminder was really handy.
So there we have it, a simple feature which can turn your photos from good to great – check today to see whether it’s switched on for you!
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