2018 MacBook Air HD camera is in poor quality.

This 2018 MacBook Air camera quality is unacceptable. I hope Apple can fix this problem via a software update as I'll be returning the 2018 MB Air soon. My 2015 MB Air camera quality trumps the 2018. To give you an idea, it looks like I'm using a webcam from early 2000 or even the 90s. I plan to stop by Apple Store tomorrow and play with the other 2018 MB Air.

I agree, this is rubbish and unacceptable. I hope they can fix this via software update, otherwise I know that even though I don't use the camera often, I am not buying any new Apple products in the near future.

Having the same issue. I‘ve even gone through the trouble of exchanging my MBA as they did look better in store. Possibly due to better lighting or sth. The model I got in exchange does have the exact same issue though. I’m pretty annoyed and thinking about returning it for good and sticking to my 2015 MBP. Too bad...

I bought the 2018 MB Air on Nov 22nd, and Apple told me the return date is Jan. 8th 2019 - extended due to holiday season FYI. I accidentally discovered the poor camera quality when using the FaceTime the following day. Let's hope Apple will address this issue soon.

Has Apple acknowledged this issue at all? Is anyone aware of their position on this matter? I’ve never dealt with a problem like this with an Apple product- what is the best way to engage the company to push for a resolution??

But, is possible that with a new update, those problems with devices, including MBP (because today I was testing it cameras in a apple store), will have a solution?.. I don't know but I still have a little bit of hope.

Tomorrow I'm gonna go to the apple support, for some solution, if no there are, maybe I will return it.

Regards.

Hello Chris. Since you were the last person from Apple in this topic, could you please comment on it a bit more? Is Apple aware of the issue? Admits? Is there any chance to expect the fix - or should we just stop complaining and take our Airs as they are (or return for refund or upgrade to Pros)? For people who purchased them recently the clock it ticking, we should make decision before it is too late for refund/replacement. Thank you for any information.

Just so you all know. I got my replaced air and the camera is the same.

I don't how we could address it properly. I will return mine. Cant accept a new model with such a low quality camera like that.

If the camera is that bad, what else could be bad as well and I might notice when its too late?

We should do something in order to make this a huge thing and get their attention.

Something else that surprised me was lot of websites reviews not talking about the camera. How is possible to test and review not testing the camera?

The silence from apple is killing me.

Yes,

I don't believe how cyber people (youtubers, journalists, etc), has not been able to test the camera of this device. I can´t find any web that talk about this, the only thing that i found is the same problem with the first evolution of Macbook's Pro, but was fixed (i guess).. So, we need to make apple people know about this, adn make this problem a huge thing.

Regards.

I sure hope so because I just ordered one. I know my mid-2012 MBP has a good FaceTime Cam in it.

When I sit my 2012 MBP and the new MB Air side by side, the 2012 is obviously much much better.

The 2018 MBP I just ordered better be the same or I will be returning that too!

Let me know how are you feel with the new terminal. Yesterday i tested all the MBP and the only one that has a good camera, is the MPB 15 inch with touchbar.. Non better than the Macbook Air 2015..

So i hope that you will get a good device.

I too bought a new 2018 MacBook Air and noticed immediately that the video and still quality took a dive as compared to my old 2013 MacBook Pro.

I did some poking around in the system and noticed that the driver for the 'FaceTime HD camera' like other posted have noted is " Model ID: UVC Camera VendorID_1452 ProductID_34068" (I think this is normally suppose to say Apple FaceTime HD Camera) which effectively is likely a wrong driver, a incompatible driver, or the OS is plain missing a driver for the camera.

So I rummaged around /System/Library/Extensions to see if I could unload the only two applicable kernel extensions in the folder, Apple_iSight.kext and AppleCameraInterface.kext. Neither were loaded in the to start, nor will they load in the Terminal. There's isn't any apparent driver to load for the camera so that might the place to start to get the internal camera for function properly. I would analyze this against an older MacBook with a functioning camera but I don't have one available to me right now.

Same issue here in Germany. Today, i was in the store and checked some devices and i have seen that the MacBook Pro 13" have the same issue.

I was just surprised when I checked an MacBook Pro 15" and the camera was much better. When I looked into the system, then another camera was installed ("Apple camera"). This MacBook was running with macOS 10.14 and not with macOS 10.14.1 like my Air or the other MacBook Pro 13". The camera name of my Air and the MacBook Pro 13" was "UVC camera" and may be it could be that driver makes some problems.

But only a guess 🙂

Greetings from Germany!

I had the same issue with two MacBook Airs that I purchased within a few days of each other, so I was able to compare both to each other. One was a week 43 build and the other was a week 44 build (verified by serial number) and both models had the blurry/grainy webcam image quality. I thought it had to do with Apple's choice of Retina display in the Air, but in comparison to the webcam in my 2016 MacBook Pro 15, it's a night and day difference in image quality. To call the webcam in the 2018 MacBook Air a "720p" camera is laughable when the image it produces looks the way it does. I ended up returning both MacBook Airs eventually.

My God, the camera quality is SO bad on the MacBook air. I CANNOT believe it. If they don't address this by January 8th, I'm returning it.

A little off topic, but has anyone noticed how on the "CAPS LOCK" key, the "CA" looks a bit faded when the keys are lit? Or is that just mine...