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
Basically what it means is that they are very very aware of this issue.
Their process is to classify issues as either expected or unexpected. If it's expected it means it's "our fault" for not knowing the camera image quality is impacted by poor design not allowing for enough light to enter the lens. That they have no recourse to fix it. It is hardware and it's a design flaw. It actually has nothing to do with the camera quality. Not something they are currently able to fix. I said its false advertising and they said prove it. That's why your camera quality is better on older models. More light coming into the camera. Its beyond stupid they let this happen. haha Someone got fired for sure I imagine.
I have a Macbook pro 2019 I just purchased in Dec for 5500.
Its way better in natural light.
Who the **** has access to natural light in their office lol. I am lucky to have some and can see the clear difference, but at night it is unusable.
When I bought my computer for the Macbook pro this was still not classified expected behaviour. It became expected as I was negotiating with them.
This is why they sent me free accessories.
Now, they have changed the classification to "expected." This means you have no recourse whatsoever with Apple other than complain and hope they offer something in the future who those who did.
All you can do is return it and buy something else or wait for their next release otherwise.
Yes, you and all of these other people have fallen through the cracks. (As of Feb 25.) If "Apple cares" they would immediately fix this issue. They just pretend too like the others. Not a special company lol.
Yes same happened with me, I ended up buying a webcam. Nothing can be done about this.
Yes the MacBook Pro has the same camera quality which is 720 p:/
I accidentally marked this response as helpful. I don't think it is (and cannot reverse it).
It is the camera. It is not the connection and the screen/camera is clean.
return it, immediately!
Search for "Call for Apple to Recall Macbooks from 2020" - First hit. Please do! The quality of the camera is horrendous and needs to be fixed.
Exactly! I just "upgraded" to the 2020 Air from the 2015 Air and I was SO shocked and disappointed to see that somehow the camera quality looks worse on the newer model. It's so grainy!! Even in decent lighting it's grainy.... It's probably my only (if not one of very few) and biggest issue with this laptop. Like I know it's a relatively less-important complaint but I'm just so disappointed.
Wife just unboxed and set up brand new 2020 Macbook Pro - she bought it to use for video conferencing and the video quality is horrible and unacceptable. Have sent back to Apple for a refund, unfortunately will be buying another brand.
This thread is full of people with brand new 2020 Macbooks complaining of the same problem. Return your new Macbook now and get a refund, there is no fix for the terrible video quality.
And no...the webcam quality isn't designed to use less bandwidth and compression, it's just rubbish.
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.
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!
Yes Very Very Bad Quality Camera, Even My IMAC 2012 Model and My 2009 Mac book pro 2009 model Camera Quality is crystal clear HD Quality. Apple should find the solutions, i even checked camera specification with my old models Imac 20012 and 2009 Mac book pro, it's same Camera Specification. i don't understand then why the Camera Quality difference.
Need Clarification for Apple
I just returned mine today. Almost impossible to understand... I compared it both at home and at an Apple store with my mba 2013 and there's no explanation. Incredible amount of noise and pixelation even with some natural light. I am pretty sure that even if camera is the same 720 (I don't have a problem with that) it is caused either due to the sensor or something as silly as not letting enough light to get in due to the supersmall hole left (in former mbs the hole is much bigger).
Super sad.
I recently purchased a 2020 Macbook Air and the camera is a disgrace. It is worlds worse than my 2017 Macbook Air. In low light the camera is a big blur. You need to be sitting in front of a bright light source to see anything, and even then it is severely pixelated. A fix needs to be made ASAP.
If you're within the return window you can return it. Otherwise, go to apple.com/feedback and let them know your feelings about the bad product. I'd also open a ticket with them. They'll probably take you through a long process that will do absolutely no good. But if you can show that you had trouble with it, IF they eventually take responsibility for the issue, hopefully the fact that many of us opened a trouble ticket will lead them to contact us with a remedy. Also, tell everyone you know who is thinking about purchasing one about the trouble. Money talks.
Exact same problem here. Tested my 2020 MacBook Air and my MacBook Air 2017 in the same room, with the same lighting, with the same internet connection. The image was so clear on my MacBook Air 2017. 2020 is another story. The camera is worse than everything I've seen yet. I can't believe it.
I have sent comments directly to Apple on their feedback page. I've included a link to this discussion page and highlighted that there are 14 pages of complaints about this. I would recommend everyone do this in order to call their attention over and over to this problem. the more and louder the complaints the more apt they are to listen and solve the problems. Here is the form for feedback: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookair.html
Grainy Image on MacBook Air 2020
