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
i've just taken delivery of my MBA 2020 and the camera image is so terrible I am not sure what to do about the machine now. I paid to have a ton of upgrades so overall this was a £1800 machine. The camera is about the worst i have seen since laptops started coming with in-built cameras. I hope, Apple, you find that damning... but i suspect you won't care. The web is awash with similar complaints. To see someone commenting saying wipe the screen and check your internet connection; it's just offensive. The camera quality is so bad in low light that i can barely even recognise myself. I joined a video call the other night and everyone was commenting about how bad it was, unprompted. I genuinely don't know if I will keep this macbook... i feel like it will be my last, at least, if this is the type of thing we can expect. Apple support were meant to call me back this evening to discuss it but what a surprise, they didn't.
The camera on my 2015 MacBook Air is better than the one on my new Macbook Air. I can't believe this. Thought I could trust Apple products. I assumed there must be a way to fix the issue by fiddling with the settings, and I think I've missed the window to return this piece of crap. This is theft. I spent so much money on this computer and got a storage upgrade etc. I thought that Apple was a brand I could trust. Called for help and technician said that apple recommends more ambient light?? Really? Wow.
Had the same problem, thought there was something wrong with it so I replaced it, but it was just as bad on the replacement so I decided to return it altogether.
My previous macbook air served me 6 years and still works, just about. I also want the next one to be future-proof, the camera is really bad compared to my 2014 model and I don’t want to know what it looks like comparatively in video calls in 2026. It looks like it’s 2006 on there. Gonna try to wait it out until the next release I guess, or get a refurbished one somewhere.
We've just purchased a MacBook 2020 and we have the same problem with the cámara, it looks terrible. We need answers to see what's happening. It's not the internet connection, it's a problem with the cámara.
Apple isn't going to do anything apart from blame you ! they thought that they could increase their margins by cheapin out on the camera, unfortunately COVID caught them in the open. I wish someone from APPLE really reads the hundreds of comments on this forum and does something about it
I have tons of Apples devices and two older Apple computers. I wanted a lightweight new one to travel with. I'm a teacher, so bought it online with the Educator program and waited 4 weeks to receive it. Being a teacher, I mainly teach on Zoom. Last night, I opened the box, set it up, went to set up Zoom. When the picture came up, I was shocked. I went on support to figure out how to fix the settings and came across a whole bunch of posts with the same issue. Googled it and found many tech articles on this situation. Called Apple this morning, spent over two hours on the phone, and talked to SEVEN people. Not one of them would state that this was an Air issue. They said it was probably just a few laptops that had an issue. I decided to return the Air, but they couldn't guarantee that the Pro didn't have the same issue. They told me to buy a light ring or webcam. REALLY?!? I just bought a 1500 dollar computer. I own numerous light rings. They don't work! It's like buying a new car and the sound system doesn't work and someone tells you just play music out of your phone. I was told that I'd have to return it, then I could wait another 4 weeks to receive another device of my choosing. I was almost in tears when I hung up. I then received an email from the last person I talked to stating, because we were disconnected so quickly at the end of the call, she wanted to send a follow up email. Basically, calling me out on hanging up. After over two hours on the phone and being transferred to seven people, disconnecting twice when they tried to transfer me, and telling me there was nothing more they could do, what did they want me to say? I'm sure you can tell how I feel about Apple today.
Yep, experiencing the same here. I'm very disappointed, but it seems at this point that Apple has downgraded the camera hardware in the 2020 MBA. I'm hoping that somehow this will be fixed via update, but not holding out much hope. If it's truly a hardware downgrade, this is unacceptable for the price.
I changed my MacBook Air 13' 2017 and upgraded to a MacBook Air 13' 2019. I think I made a huge mistake! They have changed the camera quality abruptly! My 2017 MacBook had a truly HD camera and you could see it, whereas the 2019 Mac Book air's camera is noisy, grainy and horrible! Unbelievable! My love and loyalty for apple is dying! So desapointed!
I changed my MacBook Air 13' 2017 and upgraded to a MacBook Air 13' 2020*. I think I made a huge mistake! They have changed the camera quality abruptly! I compared both and my 2017 MacBook had a truly HD camera whereas the 2020* Mac Book air's camera is noisy, grainy and horrible! How can apple deceive me in this way? Unbelievable! My love and loyalty for apple is gone! So disappointed!
Yes, it is pretty normal and there is nothing wrong with your macbook or the camera. It is just that world's best phone camera manufacturing company decided to put a 720P camera in their best laptops for what reason I would never know.
I instead bought a HD 1080P webcam to just use it for the zoom meetings or webinars.
Recently got the new MacBook Air 2TB,though camera for zoom is the worst picture quality.Really disappointed as paid a very pricey amount.Its a total disappointment in year 2020 as such a big company didn’t work out this problem.I was big fan of iPhone though MacBook camera is the worst I must say.😢
No, it's not normal. I had a MacBook Pro 2014 and was pretty satisfied with my old camera. I am completely shocked with my MacBook Air 2020! I am a psychologist working online. I need my clients to see me clearly. I teach online! How am I going to record my video classes? People must think I am using a super cheap PC... But I payed a lot of money, especially considering my underrated currency: almost 10.000 reais! I've been told we should complain until Apple offer a recall. Let's do it!
That’s the worst answer to the problem at hand. I just purchased (2) MacBook Air 2020’s and the quality is so poor! I could purchase a cheap laptop for $199 with a camera 5X the quality of this terrible excuse of a camera.
We've just purchased a new MB Air 2020, and I'm absolutely appalled by the lack of quality with the webcam. At this price point they should be the very best on the market, but no, quite the opposite.
Looking back over this thread I'm shocked by the lack of response from Apple, but not surprised anymore, they really don't give a monkeys about the customer. If they had any respect for us, they would be offering a good quality aftermarket webcam at a massively reduced price. But........ they won't. Shame on you Apple.
Apparently it is. After spending a lot of time with an apple advisor and nothing making it any better, she said that it is an issue with the new Air and to go to apple.com/feedback and leave your complaints. Hopefully if they hear from enough people they will rectify the situation. I would also open a ticket with them, outlining the problem so that if your MacBook Air is out of warranty by that time, you have proof that it was an issue while still under warranty. My 10 year old MacBook Pro camera is 10 times better than my brand new Air. So disappointing.
Of course this answer is "Apple Recommended". It doesn't hold them accountable for the terrible quality of their camera. I appreciate that you're trying to be helpful, but in looking at all of the complaints here it's obvious the problem is with the camera itself, and this being the Apple supported answer, just gives people a false sense that the problem is on their end. EVERYONE: apple.com/feedback and leave your complaints. I also suggest opening as trouble ticket with Apple. That way if they do someday decide to rectify the problem, you have a record of your complaint. If you don't complain, and it's outside of your warranty, they may not honor the repair.
Grainy Image on MacBook Air 2020
