Very grainy 2018 macbook air facetime camera

Apple deleted my previous posts but I'll write it again:

I had the same problem. Tech Support asked me to try "solutions" (clean the camera, try new user, check utilities, etc.) nothing worked. They told me that it may be a software problem that would be fixed in the next upgrade. BUT afterwards they admitted that it's a hardware issue and that this model was "designed" to only perform in good quality under very bright environments. Their suggestion was to use the camera in a room with lots of natural light. I live in Germany, we don't have lots of bright sunlight most of the year. Absurd!

Today I went to the apple store and the manager said that the camera is the same as previous models, but the image looks bad because the new screen is soo good that we can see more details /defects now. "What do you want us to do?" - he asked- I suggested that the least apple should do is to provide us with an external -better quality- webcam. He told me to go next door to an electronics' store and buy an external camera by myself, or buy one in amazon. Unbelievable!

I said then apple shouldn't put in their publicity the sharp FaceTime example image (see below), because that is fake publicity. And you won't believe what he said: "it's a publicity image! of course is not real [...] everyone does it: mac donalds, coca cola, everyone!".

I'm speechless and extremely disappointed of Apple. It's seems they are trying to hide the issue as long as possible instead of admitting that they made a big mistake this time. Please complain in the official feedback site because they don't take this forums as an official complaint: https://www.apple.com/feedback/

I have just come from the Apple store in London where they have replaced my entire screen and upper half of the laptop. The issue still remains, and me and the Apple store guy compared the cameras on all of the MacBook Airs in store, and it turns out they all have really grainy camera quality (even when checked with the Quicktime camera, which is meant to be the highest quality).

He was convinced that this was a software issue, and needs to be fixed with an update from Apple. He submitted the feedback to Apple on his end, and recommended me to submit my feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/

I'd encourage everyone here to give their feedback here so that this can get resolved quickly https://www.apple.com/feedback/

elinetrish: If you are still on time to return the computer, do it. The camera itself is the problem, it's a hardware problem and it's not defective, Apple "designed" it this way with a crappy camera. Apple will only give you different excuses (they will tell you is a software issue, then they will tell you that you have to use the camera with very bright lights, then they will probably even suggest to change the computer for a new one)... they are just buying time so that you are too late to give the computer back.

You have no idea how many apple staff I talked to, the different excuses they told me, and at the end they even blamed me for not doing my research before buying the computer, that I should have researched that the camera of this model was bad.

Apple is avoiding responsibility for this issue and they are even deleting posts in this forum from customers that already know the truth about this. Probably this post will get deleted as well in some days. My suggestion: return the computer and get your money back.

Welcome to the club and you are not alone.Any 2018 Mac series suffer with the same issue so far.We have people all around the world reporting the same. In the meantime make sure you log in a ticket with Apple and send comments.Here is one critic review just posted.See below link;

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/01/03/2018-macbook-air-facetime-camera/

Hi there,

I had a same problem, so i saw the camera is dirty. Maybe is yours dirty too.

Try to clean it!

Hope it works!

I don't think it can be updated. IN the apple store they told me I could probably have the whole upper part of the computer (screen and cam) replaced for an old one. Obviously paying for it. It's a hardware issue and apple is just silent about it. The problem is the camera itself and I know how you feel because I also use the camera a lot for work and it's embarrassing!

Since apple didn't help in the meantime I'll buy an external camera but apple should be accountable for this!

There's no resolution, it's a hardware issue (no update will fix it) and apple is not willing to do anything about it. The only thing to do is to buy an external camera. I did everything I could: I complained, Spoke with several people from apple and basically the only thing they can do for you is to take the computer back and refund you the money.

You have 14 days to give it back, after purchase. The time has passed for you but you can complain and complain and complain and get angry and complain more, and at some point apple will get tired of you and accept the computer back.

I spoke with Apple about this issue. I have a 2019 Macbook Air that I bought on Sunday and the quality is horrific. They said Apple put out an official article stating that the camera may not work well in low lighting. You know....like all poor quality cameras.

This is a trillion dollar company, guys. Cutting corners on quality for profit might be their new motto. FIrst the headphone jack they removed from the iPhone, a poor quality nighttime lense on the iPhone camera and now this.

Don't buy this machine. I'm returning mine and will get a refurbished 2017 Macbook Air. At least it will have a USB port as they so generously got rid of that on the 2019 model as well. The only thing that I like on this new Macbook air is the quality of the speaker. It is pretty incredible, I'll admit.

But now I have to decide--I dare move over to the PC world?

That looks like as Apple has decided to lower the camera light sensitivity, and the 2018 needs more light so try it with more light.

Or use Chrome or Firefox (not Safari) browser and test your camera at https://webcamtests.com/

Return the computer while you can. It's a hardware issue but they won't tell you until you really make pressure on them. It took me several phone calls until a technician accepted that the computer's camera is actually crappy but it was designed this way and there's not much to do.

After the 2018 MacBook Air launched, complaints began surfacing about the machine's 720p FaceTime HD camera, with users suggesting it was noticeably worse than the ‌FaceTime‌ cameras on other MacBook machines, including the 2018 MacBook Pro and the previous-generation ‌MacBook Air‌.

All 720p cameras are rather poor in quality compared to the ‌FaceTime‌ cameras that we get in iPhones and iPads, so we initially believed these complaints were coming from people who just expected more from a 2018 machine.

Given the sheer volume of complaints, though, MacRumors decided to do some investigating and found that the 720p ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera in the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ does indeed appear to be worse than the ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera in some other models, specifically the 2015 ‌MacBook Air‌.

2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ vs. older ‌MacBook Air‌

Compared to the 2015 ‌MacBook Air‌, the ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera in the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ is noticeably worse. It's darker, grainier, and lower in quality. To be clear, neither camera is good because we're talking about 720p video here, but there is a visible difference in side by side photos. Do you really want to buy new Linkedin accounts If you need aged Linkedin accounts, you can simply knock us

I'm currently experiencing the same issue. I had the old Macbook Air then recently upgraded to the 2018 Macbook Air and I am shocked as to how bad the camera quality is. I contacted Apple's customer care via live chat and they said that the product I bought was defected. I brought it into the store today and I exchanged my Macbook for a new one. I opened the box and tried out the camera at the Apple store and it was fine, but when I sat in the food court of the mall, the camera was still very grainy. I'm CONVINCED all 2018 Macbook Airs have crappy camera quality in LOW LIGHT.

Depending on where you bought the product, an Apple computer has good return policy

if purchased through official Apple store, or official online store. ~ Within 14-days.

Be sure to contact Apple (or authorized Apple reseller/ or service) for other issues;

an initial Apple warranty, if haven't 14-day option; still could be a serviceable repair.

• Apple - Find Locations

https://locate.apple.com/

• Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

This topic added on older topic thread, could've been start of new one.

Other software (skype, FB chat, Zoom) using the camera will generate a much better picture. Go figure

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but its always been this way. I have a 2019 and a mid 2014 and they are exactly the same in artificial lighting conditions mainly.