Very grainy 2018 macbook air facetime camera

Everyone should make note that this is not something that can be repaired. Its not a hardware “issue” as it was intentionally made this way by Apple. Apple is making an inferior product these days. You have to upgrade to a MacBook Pro to get basically the same quality camera that was on your old MacBook Air. It’s insane. When I saw how horrible and grainy the image was I went back to the store and checked out all of the MacBooks. They just have cut corners w the MacBook Air this time.

My loyalty to Apple is wavering. Less quality.

Forcing is to buy adaptors so they can make a profit. And now the grainy camera that looks like it came from a flip phone.

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.

Same problem here, so it is clearly design not setting.

We need clarity asap on whether it is software (which they can fix) or hardware (which means I need to return this 2018 MacBook Air while I still can). I suggest starting a thread titled "Many 2018 MacBook Airs being returned due to poor camera quality?" That may get Apple's attention quicker to resolve whether it is hardware or software. Such a shame to have a great machine in many ways with such an Achilles heel for those who use lots of video conferencing.

Well, after exchanging computers now 4x i have given up. I decided to exchange the new air for the base macbook pro only to see that the keyboard is second gen and any dust particle clogs the keys so apple would need to replace the whole top layer. Apparently this happened so much that apple brought out the third gen keyboard w a silicone cover in the keys so the they wouldnt stick and actually work. Additionally, bc it came out in 2017 its been sitting in stores w a dead battery for the equal amount of time which has caused it to to be very slow somehow and glitchy. Not to mention it comes with os sierra so youll have to upgrade to high sierra and then mojave. after 2 changes one where it didnt power on at all in the store while plugged in, i decided that id rather a newer computer 2018 w a working keyboard. So as crapy as the camera quality is which is VERY crapy (alrhough the macbook pro isnt any better really) Im stuck w the new macbook air. Only other option is macbook pro w touch bar and for pros i get it but for school and work, im not willing to pay 1,800$. Unfortunately this has been a disappointment considering that after all they r apple, who are supposed to have top of the line products.

I just did a comparison between my new macbook air 2018 and my macbook air early 2014. it's actually pretty sad that this is the case. going to likely return this machine, if this indeed is a hardware issue.

pics were taken side by side, same time, same lighting

macbook air 2018

macbook air early 2014

I have the 2019 MacBook Pro; it's one month old and I am also having this issue. I went back and forth with an apple tech via chat today, and he said it's a hardware issue and I have to take it in to have a repair. On a month old, $3,000 computer! Honestly, my 2013 - which I gave to my hubby, so we still have it - has perfect video and camera quality. I'm really concerned to see how many people have this issue and how little has been done about it, especially as I teach a lot of webinars and shoot a lot of video courses, so the camera is a "must-have" not a "nice to have" for me. Really not happy.

Also not happy about the sheer amount of freaking adapters I need now that they got rid of all USB ports and went to the USB A all over the place. That I can deal with, though - the camera I cannot.

Hi there - I have been in the business of supporting one of the world's largest Banks with one of the largest deployments of internal video collaboration over 40,000 video endpoints. I have used & abused multiple PC, MAC, Linux, Mobile & Tablets in optimising internal Video Conferencing and Video Chat with Customers. Internal guides to optimise the lighting conditions, optimal camera height and configurations and extensive testing of all of the USB Webcams in the last 8+ years. These are the baselines of my credentials....

My 4 day old 2020 Macbook Air 13" is brilliant...but i went to do a Video Call and I was gobsmacked at how poor the quality was. This is not my subjective opinion, as many of you have demonstrated, and I was told by Apple Support have said this is "EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR." I am very upset, as I checked and knew it was the "720p FaceTime HD camera" so was not expecting broadcast quality. I was expecting similar performance to 7yr old 2013 MacBook Air I was replacing  - in the same way you'd expect relatively similar performance if you changed a 7yr old car...maybe a little quicker, but not 50-70% slower!

I have conducted a x3 way video conference call on Zoom and recorded it to show the comparative quality between a 2020 MacBook Air, 2013 MacBook Air and an iPhone XR. You need to view in full screen. The video quadrants  are labelled with device names, but its clear quickly which is the newest device.  https://vimeo.com/409222156

I am genuinely at a loss and sincerely hoping that this is a device driver setting/enhancement that is required...because, I cannot seriously consider that someone at Apple has intentionally chosen the piece of 5hit camera if it is hardware related...

I just bought a new MacBook Air 2020 with a 512gb hard drive to replace my 2013 MacBook Air. The main reason was that I do a fair bit of filming for online tutorials and the small hard drive in my old MacBook was so full of system files, I was no longer able to store any large files. The camera on my old MacBook was fine but this new one was shockingly bad. I jumped through the hoops with Apple support over the phone (as the Genius bar is closed due to Covid 19) and wiped the hard drive and reinstalled the operating system twice - costing me two valuable days of work - and then had to take it to an authorised Apple dealer for them to agree there was a problem worth asking for Apple to send a replacement MacBook. I've received the replacement today and the camera is just as bad. Same before and after pics as shown previously - ie: clear and sharp on the old MacBook and dull and grainy on the new one.

I'm so disappointed to read all of these replies showing a long standing issue and angry that I've been made to jump through hoops when the issue is clearly in the machine itself.

[Edited by Moderator]

I have some demonstrable differences between my 2013 and my 2020 MacBook Air - It's the same specification of camera I agree, but something is different in either the hardware or Driver. This is evident by two photos I just took, with significant additional digital noise in the brand-new laptop. I could live with it being 'as-crap' as the 2013 device, but not get significantly worse! Maybe things changed from 2014 onwards...either way, its significantly worse and utterly terrible in low light situations

Macbook 2013

Macbook Air 2020

Same problem. Exchanged mine today. Tested it at office. Looks terrible. Ripoff.

I think if everyone gives their feedback about this to Apple, they might do something about it: https://www.apple.com/feedback/ Worth a try!

Hey everyone, just a note that there's another active thread about this too: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250011475?answerId=250432477022&page=1

I have the same exact problem. I bought my MacBook Air on Sunday. I tried resolving the issue over the phone with Apple but they couldn’t do anything. Now I’m going back to Apple store next week to see if they can fix it. It’s very disappointing.