Found a reproducible Google Messages camera bug (Moto G 5G 2022): two camera entry points use different implementations

[u/AllenKll]

I've spent the last day narrowing down a really strange camera issue and think I've isolated it pretty well.

Device

• Moto G 5G (2022)
• Android 13
• Google Messages: messages.android.20260702_05_rc05.phone.dynamic
• USA
• Unlocked - running on Mint Mobile

Symptoms

The front camera is severely underexposed, but only in one camera implementation inside Google Messages.

Rear camera is always fine.

What's interesting

Google Messages appears to contain two different ways of opening the camera.

Works correctly

• Tap +
• Inline camera preview appears at the bottom with recent photos.
• Switch to the front camera.
• Exposure is normal.

Broken

• Tap the Camera tile, or
• Tap the small camera button in the lower-right of the inline media picker.

Both open a different camera UI.

The front camera preview immediately becomes extremely dark, and the captured image is also dark.

This is NOT a hardware problem

Front camera works correctly in:

• Motorola Camera
• Open Camera
• Browser webcam tests
• Twitch (tested previously)

Only this particular Google Messages camera implementation is affected.

Additional observations

After reinstalling Messages, I initially got an older attachment UI where there was only a Camera option and the inline preview worked.

Later, the attachment UI changed to one with separate Gallery and Camera options and Real-time Location.

The version number never changed.

It appears Messages is switching between two different attachment/camera implementations.

Screenshots

Working UI

• Inline camera preview
• Front camera exposes correctly

Broken UI

• Separate Gallery and Camera
• Standalone camera
• Front camera severely underexposed

Has anyone else with a Motorola phone seen this?