Have just purchased a new MacBook Air (2020 model). Have bought to use for home working (Zoom meetings, etc) and the image is really grainy when using Zoom or FaceTime. Is this normal with Macs?
MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.15
yes. I had purchased exact same 2020 MacBook Air model and it had worse camera than 2015 MacBook Pro. After a lot of research I figured out that since 2018 Apple changed the MacBook design and made the lid slimmer and put in the same camera they’ve used on older macbooks but made the camera hole much smaller. If you compare both camera holes side by side and look at the size you’ll see the new MacBook has small tiny camera hole which leads to less light and all photos and videos look grainy in low light thus your new MacBook has grainy and low quality camera. It doesn’t actually have a worse camera but due to this flaw in the design the camera sensors get less light and makes it blurry. The only fix is to add more brightness with better lighting but it doesn’t help much or to pay for an app and download it to enhance your webcam to apply filters over it and increase the brightness of the image. There doesn’t seem to be any other fix. Just return the MacBook if you aren’t satisfied and wait for new one or buy an external wireless camera or use your phone as the camera or iPad. A lot of users on here have this issue but on reddit and other places most people have ignored this issue and instead blamed the users for not knowing how to use the MacBook properly and not doing their “research” for calling this a downgrade in camera quality. They’re ignorant of the fact that in 2018 this design change happened. The brand new users who don’t complain are either upgrading from latest macbooks or those who never bothered paying attention to camera quality or don’t care or new MacBook users. Only people with older macbooks like 2015 or 2012 are the ones complaining and if you google 2018 MacBook camera issues or 2018 MacBook low quality grainy camera you’ll find tons of posts and stories and even YouTube videos and some general advice or fixes. That’s the best advice I can give you. Google that maybe you’ll find something there. That’s how I found out about this whole issue. You can even google check my webcam resolution and I compared the resolution and sensor of 2015 MacBook and 2020 MacBook side by side and the 2020 has same exact model of camera same exact resolution just worse contrast and brightness due to low light. But do the experiments to find yourself. Good luck!
I could not agree more. Bought a 2020 model in October and the quality of the camera on Zoom, Google, Teams, Facetime is just atrocious. I am sorry Apple, this is just NOT acceptable, especially during the pandemic!!!! How sad you put profit over functionality.
Has anyone heard any more about this? I purchased a 2020 MacBook Air to replace my 2013 Air. Even spent the extra cash to get more memory and storage! Finally had my first zoom meeting (almost 3 weeks after receiving the laptop) and the image quality was horrible! Worse than my 2013 MacBook Air. I contacted tech support and I was simply told that I have to hope the problem "trends" so that apple will do something about it. And now that the 14 day return period has passed, I can't even get my money back. Absolutely ridiculous. It took me a while to decide to spend that much money on a new computer and I am so disappointed.
I'm in the same boat - just got the new MacBook air with the M1 chip and the camera is TRASH. Having to do zoom calls on my MacBook 2015 edition. How can you purchase a top of the line MacBook and get dealt such an awful camera? APPLE ARE YOU LISTENING??
Apple is absolutely lying if they said they have never seen this before. I had a Google meet today and I could not stop focusing on the quality of this device. I turned on every light and nothing seems to work. It’s very disappointing that I paid the amount of money, and now I have to purchase another laptop. I am unable to utilize this device for any virtual sessions.
Same here. Just purchased a brand new MacBook Air 2020 in October and only just realize now that I am using ZOOM more often and FT on my computer that the quality of the camera is horrible. Everyone is commenting and surprised by Apple. I have a 2009 MacBook Pro and the quality is better...this is unacceptable for a computer that cost me over $2000 since I upgraded to 1TB. Is it the same for the MacBook Pro? If not I will raise **** that they exchange my computer for an upgrade. Something needs to be done. A cheap PC has better quality computer, but I am such a die hard Apple fan. Major disappointment.
This is so sad, I have a late 2014 model as well and the camera is of wayyyyy better quality!!!! I have called a million times and everytime they say, they've never heard of an issue, but yet this forum is literally full of complaints. You're so right, this laptop is so worthless.
Hmmm I am usually not one to fight about issues but I am so disappointed. I am a dedicated Apple user (iPad, iPhones, computers) and expect the quality service and products I always had over the past 15 years.
I encourage everyone who has a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air and is experiencing a grainy image from their camera to comment here.
[Edited by Moderator]
I totally agree with you Trajan...I figure they are just not acknowledging this. So what does this mean for those who recently bought Apple laptops...we just fall through the cracks? I still have my laptop MacBook Pro from 2009 which my kids are using. How come the camera is actually clearer.
I tend to use my new MacBook Air for several years to come. Do I have to deal with a grainy image for several years?
When did you escalate this to Apple? You mentioned you got some free accessories. Would that be an external webcam? I just want some reconciliation...ideally a credit; external webcam, etc.
They may fix the problem on the next model, but we now purchased this model. They can lose customers based on this issue alone. In any case you are right, we are dealing with giant enterprise that will involve lots of time and energy. I'll see what I can get form them at the Genius Bar next week. If anything...:(
Agree. The camera quality is terrible.
1) My internet connection is 400mbs symmetrical dedicated link
2) If I clean the screen any further I'm going to wipe the glass away.
Seriously, the camera quality is the worst I've ever experienced. My 2013 Macbook Pro had a far superior camera.
Apple, WTF?
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!
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.
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.
Grainy Image on MacBook Air 2020
