After the 2018 MacBook Air launched, complaints began surfacing well-nigh the auto'southward 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 go far iPhones and iPads, then we initially believed these complaints were coming from people who but expected more from a 2018 machine.

macbookairgroupfacetime
Given the sheer volume of complaints, though, MacRumors decided to do some investigating and establish that the 720p ‌FaceTime‌ Hard disk camera in the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ does indeed announced 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 Hard disk drive photographic camera in the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ is noticeably worse. It's darker, grainier, and lower in quality. To be articulate, neither camera is good because nosotros're talking about 720p video hither, merely there is a visible difference in side by side photos.

2018macbookairvs2015macbookair

2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ on left, 2015 ‌MacBook Air‌ on right


2018 MacBook Air vs. 2018 MacBook Pro

The 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌'s ‌FaceTime‌ Hard disk camera is really pretty like to the ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera in the 2018 MacBook Pro. There's footling deviation that we saw in comparing images, suggesting that the 2 machines are using similar cameras, neither of which is especially good.

2018macbookairvs2018macbookpro

720p camera quality

The ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera that Apple is using in the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ is far worse than the cameras on modernistic iPhones and iPads, and quality hasn't been bumped up for years, which is the real problem.

‌FaceTime‌ streaming is limited to 720p, but we do use our front-facing cameras for other purposes, and the poor quality of the cameras Apple uses in its notebooks is a stark dissimilarity to the sharp seven-megapixel front-facing camera in the iPhone 8, eight Plus, X, XR, XS, and XS Max.

Even bumping that camera up to 1080p would make a world of divergence when it comes to quality, every bit evidenced in photos captured using the 1080p ‌FaceTime‌ HD photographic camera in the iMac Pro.

2018macbookairvsimacpro
The 720p camera in the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ does suck, but so do the ‌FaceTime‌ Hard disk drive cameras Apple uses across the Mac notebook lineup.

Which models are affected?

All ‌MacBook Air‌ models appear to accept the aforementioned ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera and thus all models are impacted. The quality of the camera is less bothersome to some users than others, but there have been a large book of complaints.

What does Apple tree have to say near the issue?

Null. Apple hasn't yet commented on the complaints over the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌'s camera.

What can I exercise if I'm unsatisfied with my camera?

If you're unhappy with the ‌FaceTime‌ Hard disk camera in the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌, the but recourse seems to exist to return it. There's nothing that tin be washed to improve the camera at this point in fourth dimension, though ownership an external webcam is besides a possible solution.

There is a possibility that at that place's a software issue that could exist stock-still via an over-the-air update, based on the testing of some users who have claimed to run into meliorate quality video in some apps compared to others, but the results have been inconsistent and it's unclear if hardware or software is to blame.

Is it withal worth buying a 2018 MacBook Air?

If yous're buying a notebook for its forepart-facing camera, the 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌ isn't a great choice, nor is whatsoever other Mac. The aforementioned is true if the front-facing camera is an of import feature to you.

If you lot but use ‌FaceTime‌ occasionally, have other devices to fall back on, and don't need to rely on the front end-facing camera, the ‌MacBook Air‌ is a capable car with a Retina display, T2 chip, Impact ID, back up for up to 16GB RAM, a third-generation butterfly keyboard, a Force Touch trackpad, and Thunderbolt 3 back up.

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