That is a pretty poor test to make such an accusation with any certainty. I'm not saying that it isn't the case but taking 2 photos with different phones in a dimly lit room and no other tests is really, really silly.

I'm not jumping on the Beautygate bandwagon until I see something a little more concrete. Also, if this is only for the front-facing camera, as it seems from the post, then this is even less of an issue. The whole point of the front-facing camera is to take selfies.

I agree with your first paragraph. That said, you have no problem with the front-facing camera silently applying a beautifying filter with no option to disable it? Honestly, that statement, followed by the claim that that camera is only for taking selfies to the exclusion of all non-vanity uses, sounds like sarcasm - but I'm pretty sure you're not being sarcastic. Can you clarify?

Sorry... I'm not being sarcastic but, currently, I have zero reason to believe that any kind of filter is being applied, hence why I believe this is less of an issue. What other uses, besides pointing the camera at your face, would someone have for using a front-facing camera? If you wanted a picture of anything else, you'd just use the regular camera which has already been shown to not exhibit the behavior. What non-vanity uses are there for the camera?

Further into the thread there is another test (on the 12.1 beta) that has no smoothing.

Other comments in the thread mention it applying to other textures too, so calling it a "beauty/skin filter" is a bit much, I think. It's probably just strong noise reduction being applied in general.

I think noise reduction should be a setting that can be disabled, though, but I think it makes sense to enable by default for a front-facing camera that lacks the resolution/capabilities of the back camera and will probably be used more often in environments that would benefit from it being applied.

Here's the latest Unbox Therapy video on this with selfies taken on an iPhone X, Xs, XS Max, and 6. There's definitely something happening. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3GGdtn9poo&

Here is the clip from Unbox Therapy where they talk about it:

https://youtu.be/XFckmtISfJk?t=393

More vanity in the world.

The phone is now an appendage or avatar to a person.

It looks more like a difference in sharpening or focus, not necessarily a “filter” or skin smoothening effect. Either way, hardly a conclusive test.

Bad news for photography.

Apparently only effects the front facing camera. Noone is doing anything but selfies and facetime with that.