Apple introduced a new feature called “Lens Cleaning Hint” in iOS 26 to improve the camera experience. This system detects whether the camera lens is dirty before users take a photo and suggests cleaning. However, Apple’s feature is not a first in the technology world. A similar function was introduced by Samsung eight years ago with the Galaxy S8 series.

iPhone introduces lens cleaning suggestion

The system called Lens Cleaning Hint is activated when the device’s camera is ready to take an image. When elements that may negatively affect the image quality, such as dust, fingerprints or oil stains, are detected on the lens, the user is sent a warning. Apple introduced this new feature in a short slide at the WWDC 2025 event and announced it as one of the 36 new functions in iOS 26.

This feature is offered for the first time in the Apple ecosystem, and has been used on Android, especially on Samsung devices, for a long time. The system, which Samsung included in the Galaxy S8 model, was activated at the time because the fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone was positioned very close to the camera lens.

When users wanted to touch the fingerprint reader, they would often touch the camera lens, which would cause the lens to become stained. The system would detect these problems in advance and warn the user. Although the feature that came with iOS 26 is not presented as a direct innovation, it stands out as a functional innovation for users who use the iPhone camera extensively.

In cases where image quality can be seriously impaired even by small stains on the lens surface, the system has the potential to increase shooting quality. With a simple warning before taking a photo or video, it becomes possible to prevent blurry or low-quality images.

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