Front camera on new iPad Pro 13 M4 super grainy

Yes, you can compare the images, but remember the rear facing iPhone camera has a 48MP sensor and will render noise much different. Size of sensor also favors iPhones. However, in low light with front facing cameras the solution is add light and reduce noise.

Hi Jeff. Apologies for not posting photos sooner. I’m including two images of some used books laid out on the living room floor, the first taken with the new iPad Pro 13” M4…

and the second taken with my 2022 iPhone 14 Pro Max (iOS 17.5.1)…

note: both images taken under the same lighting within moments of each other. At first glance from far away, they both look fine to me. It’s only when you zoom in on the finer details of each and compare them, you will find that the older iPhone has spectacularly better detail for some of the smaller words (like the word “Forward” on the upper right “Herb Book” for example, as well as the woman on the cover of the book “I Quit Sugar” who looks much grainier in the former image.)

I’ll also point out that when I am lining up the image prior to taking it with the iPad, the image looks spectacular. It’s only after I click the button that the resulting image looks grainy.

hope that’s helpful!

(I can’t personally comment on the front facing issue as of yet since I haven’t had to use that camera yet, so hopefully someone else can upload some images of that now)

I’m having the exact same issue with my 13 inch m4 pro. At first I thought it was the OLED screen, but it’s not I’ve taken pictures with the iPad sent them to my iPhone and they’re still grainy. Take the exact same picture with my iPhone and it’s perfect. Definitely something to do with the camera itself when you line up the shot everything looks perfect on the screen. I went through Apple support and did a diagnostics and everything with the iPad was it should be hopefully a software update will address this issue.

Yup, unfortunately the comparison vs iPhone muddies the original complaint slightly. The OP was comparing two generations of iPad (as was I, much earlier in the thread). I switched from 2018 iPad Pro to M4 and was immediately struck by how much worse the front camera was. I had used my iPad all the time for conference calls. Unfortunately I can’t post comparisons as I traded in my 2018 model. :(

I think another aspect is that the primary functions of the front facing camera is FaceTime, Zoom conference calls etc. I’m not sure everyone wants extreme detail so that everyone on the call can see every wrinkle, pore, crows feet and every other >flaw<. People use soft focus filters on really high resolution camera/lens outfits because they are too sharp and people don’t like how they look. Apple will always be walking a fine line when it comes to the camera and lenses used for selfies.

The basic premise of screens is they always lie. Auto brightness, manual brightness etc. You can try turning on Reference Mode in the Settings > Dsplay & Brightness > Advanced > Reference Mode > enable.

Use Reference Mode on your iPad Pro - Apple Support

The brightness might change, which is important. None of the standards it support are really for photography as they are all video standards. But it might get your screen in the ballpark for matching photo better. If it doesn’t, it’s not a surprise because that’s not what it’s designed for.

I have the same issue with my 11” M4 ipad pro. The front facing camera pictures are grainy, noisy and soft. Not as sharp and in focus as my old 2nd gen 11” ipad pro that I replaced. Hoping it is a software issue and Apple will fix it. Please do let us know when you hear back from Apple.

Jeff Donald,

Yes that’s right and I totally agree, however iPhones are taking much better pictures than the new iPad. To me this quality is terrible on such expensive device. I thought that iPads have better quality than what I have faced in the new m4 model. Hope apple will fix this issue, as currently it is unusable for video calls.

For me, it’s the rear camera. Everything looks great when lining up the photo, but as soon as i’ve taken it and i go to look at it, the results are super washed out and grainy. looks like an early 2000s digital camera. might consider returning if this is the actual hardware and not a software issue.

literally same, i was going to trade in my gen 2 11” and as soon as i compared the front camera on the m4 ipad pro i decided against it, might even return it if it doesn't get fixed in the 18os update. there was nothing wrong with my original.

I also just fired up my new pro M4 13 inch and was absolutely shocked by the poor resolution of the front camera. One of the main reasons I upgraded was so I could use the front facing camera for video conferencing now that the camera is located in a better position. My pro from a couple of years ago is much better, and it seems crazy, but I think I might go back to that unit and gift this one away. Hugely disappointing after spending over $2k on this unit.

Yes I totally agree. I just bought the 11 inch m4 iPad Pro and was having the same issue on face time. My girlfriend has the M1 iPad Air and we were on face time. Her video was clean and mine was very grainy. I returned my iPad for another one but unfortunately I'm having the same issue. Pretty disappointed considering this should be a better iPad all around. I hope they fix this issue.

In your case I’m not seeing super grainy like a 2000s digital camera like you mentioned in a previous comment. Also, you’re comparing the iPad Pro M4 camera to the iPhone Pro Max Camera. They aren’t the same.

Specs for iPhone 14 Pro Max camera:

Specs for iPad Pro M4: