2018 MacBook Air HD camera is in poor quality.

We've tested our camera as suggested - but it was an issue right out of the box yesterday and it's still an issue - with any app, in new test user accounts, and the system profile recognizes the camera.

Apple needs to replace these cameras OR remove this image and this text from the website because it's blatantly false advertising.

Hi Becky,

I have the same issue. My colleagues confirmed too that on the other end of a video call my video quality is definitely not HD as it supposed to be.

I tried with Facetime, Skype, Hangouts - same issue with all.

Different user on the same MacBook Air 2018 - same issue.

The camera quality is certainly not HD.

What can we do to resolve?

Thanks,

Ferenc

Hi Becky,

I tried all these suggestions and the issue persists. I got the 2018 air for just one day and the issue was there the first time I tried the camera. What I can also confirm is that the lens is physically clear. The blurring is uniform across all regions of the image and independent of environmental lighting, so it is definitely from either sensor resolution or software instead of optics.

I hope these information helps pinpoint the issue and I hope to hear back from you soon.

Best,

YW

Yes, same here. Bought my MacBook Air 2018 exactly one week ago in Sydney. HD camera quality is terrible (foto attached), grainy and blurry.

Reminds me of how cameras used to be in the 90's. Something is definitely wrong with the camera.

I stopped by the Apple store in Sydney (I did not have my new device on me) and checked the camera on the other Macbook Air 2018 devices on display. They ALL had the same issue... I compared it with an old model of the macbook air on display which has the exact same 720 pixel camera and it was a HUGE difference. Called over one of the staff working there who was shocked when he saw the difference and didn't know what to say.. other than to bring it back and get a refund, which I will do in the next couple of days.

I also spoke to Apple technical support who have not been aware of such problem. I was asked to reset and update the MB air which didn't help unfortunately.

For starters, it would be good if someone from Apple officially admitted the problem exists, the problem is on Apple (and hopefully in software only), the fix is in works... That would be the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hi Yimin,

I am not sure whether making staff aware in the store is going to help anything? Because that is what I did.

As I mentioned, I went to the main Apple store on George street in Sydney to check all the new MacBook Air's on display (there was about 4 or 5 of them) and ALL devices had the same issue with the camera, bad quality, pixely and grainy.

When I called a staff member over and compared it to the old model Macbook Air who has the same 720p camera he was shocked and lost for words. All he said was to bring the device back and get my money while it's within the two weeks.

(they are still selling them despite me making them aware of this issue across all Macbook Air devices on display ⚠)

I also called Apple Support on the weekend as suggested above and send them pictures of proof. Likewise they were shocked and transferred me to the highest level (those who work with the engineers). I was asked to do several restarts and updates. Nothing worked.

This was my first Mac and a disappointing experience thus far. I will return the device and go back to Microsoft.

What I found in the shop is that camera on MBP (without touchbar) is shown as AppleCamera (not UVC like in Air). But (correct me if I am wrong) this is only about the interface (PCI vs USB), not the sensor, not the optics. But I do not know if there is ANY way to find more technical details about the sensor/optics. And that would be the only information that could help to answer the question of the day: 'is there any chance to fix that cr*p in software'. Of course, even if it is fixable, that does not promise that Apple will. But if it is not fixable (hopelessly bad hardware) - there is no hope for the damned...

Absolutely true. Choosing such an extremely bad camera for the MBA 2018 is not acceptable from Apple. Here the comparison of screenshots from MBA 2018 and a very cheap and older webcam (model C270 from Logitech). This are different universes.

I observed inferior camera image & video quality on my 15" 2018 MacBook Pro. In response to my complaint about this, Apple ordered a replacement with my configuration, but the HD camera quality was still noticeably grainier and blurrier than on my 2013 MacBook Pro. I put it down to the new T2 chip, which among other things controls the camera. I've noticed the video quality improves dramatically in better light conditions, ideally in daylight somewhere by the window. Still, if you place my 2013 and 2018 machines side by side, the 5 year-old-machine will provide sharper video with more colour vibrancy and less noise than the much newer and much more expensive MBP.

I found out the camera is the same hardware as from 2011- nothing changed there.

It is HD quality but the Facetime Application (software) has a problem, that I hope Apple will fix soon.

see my answer here for detaails https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8627217?answerId=250090914022#250090914022

Hi Richard,

From my understanding of this thread, Community Specialists actually works for Apple.New Team: Community Specialists

I definitely remember that thermal issue. I am just complaining that even as a customer, I tried to contact my friends who bought this model to find out if this is universal. People who at least have stronger bonds to Apple always assume the fault is on customers' side. If I live close to an apple store, I would definitely go there and try all the MacBook Air on display to make real apple staff aware of this issue, but unfortunately this is not the case.

Hi Guys,

Today i was talking with a specialist, and he gave me this link for contact directly with software and hardware Enginering department, maybe if we let a lot of comments in this part, Apple will know about this problem.

Product Feedback - Apple

Hi..I've just received the MBA 2018 model and I'm totally dissapointed from this kind of terrible Facetime camera from Apple. Does Apple acknowledge the issue and plans to fix it via software?

I have submitted my feedback through the apple link. Feedback - MacBook Air - Apple

Please do update this thread if anyone hears back from Apple.