Grainy Image on MacBook Air 2020

No matter where you sit, or how you try to maneuver the lighting - you will get the grainy image problem. The problem is not with us, the consumer, the problem is with the poorly designed Apple Computer. It's ridiculous and inexcusable that Apple put a low resolution camera in their latest edition, highly-priced, computer. My son's $400 PC has a much better camera.

Agreed. It seems they say it was a detail that is only now noticed because of COVID19 (more people on virtual meetings). I said that may be true but a computer at that price must have every detail count. Apple simply overlooked a major detail that they considered unimportant. If Steve Jobs was around, this would not have happened. Its just not the same company!

So, I just got a new 2020 Macbook Air and was setting it up today. Out of curiosity, after setting everything up, I wanted to check the camera since we've been doing some much Zoom this last year. I turned on facetime and was immediately confused why I looked so grainy. So, then I created a Zoom call to see if it was the platform. Nope. Still grainy. I'm pretty critical of how I look so I was willing to accept that maybe today I just looked like garbage.

So, I opened my Macbook Air from 2015 that I've been using up to now. I have actually loved that camera and how it has made me look on Zoom this last year. I now have both laptops open side by side with the cameras on. I'm the same person in both views with the same light on the same internet connection. The new computer (2020) looks shockingly bad: grainy and dark. The 2015 looks great!

Like I said, this new laptop is brand new, out of the box, never been used. The internet connection is spotless (I did multiple tests to double check) and the camera is also spotless because like I said, it's brand new, never been used.

So, I'd love to know why they stopped using quality cameras?!?

Hello, I have already looked for help on the forum several times and also commented several times. I also am very disappointed with the poor quality of the camera in a brand new expensive MacBook. I need a good video image for my job and unfortunately come out looking very unprofessional. And this in times of video conferencing! The answers from Apple support were very disappointing, like clean the camera, better internet connection, better light or buy an external camera. One should act united as a community, but I do not know how.

I’m the one who had mentioned started the suggestion on uniformity pages further back . Cant say the words since my last two posts have been removed when I tried to respond to ActiveLife this morning.

If you can, take it back. Today! As you read through this tremendously long section you'll see that Apple doesn't care that it installed a terrible camera for its Air 2020, and you have a short window of time before you can't return the laptop.

I just got my Mac air 2020 in large part because I needed to upgrade to do better zooms... I just tried the camera out on face time. what's the deal???? My iPhone, my old iMac all had much better cameras than this. this is SOOO disappointing and while I'm enjoying so many other features this one just put a damper on my new purchase.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAMERA APPLE???

I'm a computer tech for a school district and bought 40 of these units boy did that blow-up in my face and since they were all ingrained Apple will not take them back. Worse apple experience ever and I go back to Mac OS 7.6.1

For Apple to have recommended above to clean the screen is ludicrous. This camera is awful. I too purchased my laptop to do zooms and vid chats. it's awful!!!! My phone is better. Poorly done apple.

Glad to see I am not the only person having these issues. People looking at me like, what happened to your camera, why you so grainy. Come on Apple, what you doing about this? I had to buy an APP to connect my phone and use it as my camera. Should not have to do that at all.

i have the same issue. this is the worst laptop camera I've ever have!! I just bought MBA 2020 a couple days ago and I still mad about the camera that is really blurry and grainy. it's more like 360p not 720p. my 2017 MBA way MORE better. apple please fix this!! we've paid a lot of money for buying your products yet it turns out not like what we've expected.

Well, I just had my first Zoom meeting with the MacBook Air 2020 and I was devastated. I wiped the camera lens several times and that didn't change anything. I too have a MacBook Air 2015 and planned on giving it to my niece, but now I'm hesitating because I work from home (pre and post pandemic) and use video conferencing platforms all day. I need to look my best. This grainy video is not working for me. How can the color and images on the actual computer be so dynamic but the video (even with FaceTime) is HORRIBLE. Apple definitely didn't bring its "A game" in this situation. So, what are my options? What is the fix, Apple?

No fix from Apple! They’ll tell you to wipe the glass a million times and go to a room with better lighting. I stopped using it and now use my Microsoft Surface, as the camera is amazing, even in a low light room. I wish I could return this laptop!

Moe11211 wrote:

Apple has no interest in rectifying this issue. I’m almost 100 they are reviewing every complaint on this forum. It’s disgusting from a trillion dollar company

Apple is actually not reading everything on this forum. Its for us users only.

Apple what are you going to do about the grainy worst facetime camera? How can you ugrade macboo air but camera quality is so ******? Nothing that they have recommended works,not even using a ring light works.