Since the release of iPhone 5 on Sept. 21, the smartphone has become one of the most discussed devices in the smartphone world with many users complaining that the camera gives out a purple flare. Recent reports suggest that the purple flare is not exclusive to iPhone 5 but is also present in Android smartphones.

With many iPhone 5 users reporting the purple flare issue Apple also issued a statement confirming the symptoms and resolution.

"Symptoms - A purplish or other colored flare, haze, or spot is imaged from out-of-scene bright light sources during still image or video capture. Resolution - Most small cameras, including those in every generation of iPhone, may exhibit some form of flare at the edge of the frame when capturing an image with out-of-scene light sources. This can happen when a light source is positioned at an angle (usually just outside the field of view) so that it causes a reflection off the surfaces inside the camera module and onto the camera sensor. Moving the camera slightly to change the position at which the bright light is entering the lens, or shielding the lens with your hand, should minimize or eliminate the effect," indicates Apple's Web site.

Consumer Reports carried out tests in response to the iPhone 5's camera complaints and found that the phone's camera displayed a purple haze when they shot a bright light source. Consumer Reports suggest that Samsung Galaxy S3 and Motorola Droid Razr Maxx were also tested under the same conditions. Tests revealed that the pictures from Galaxy S3 and Droid Razr Maxx also showed a haze which was sometimes purple, but sometimes another color or even a rainbow. Furthermore, Consumer Reports also indicate that iPhone 4S' camera also displayed a purple haze.

"All camera lenses, even those made for expensive SLRs, can yield lens flare, which is produced by scattered reflections inside the lens from a bright light source. How much flare appears in an image depends on how you orient the lens," informs Consumer Reports.

With reports confirming that the iPhone 5's camera is not the only one which displays a purple flare on the pictures. Time will tell if the reports can put iFans mind to rest with the issue.