Upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro Rumored to Feature Upgraded 1080p Webcam

[deevey]

A modern 1080p camera, even when compressed to 720p during streaming, will have a significantly improved image quality, especially in less than ideal lighting situations.

Resolution does not nessesarily make for low light betterment, the 480p FaceTime camera on my 2010 iMac was head and shoulders above the 2020 intel MBA in bad conditons simply due to optics and sensor size.

The M1 neural engine has at least made their 720p better than the competition's built in laptop cameras. And I guess the suppliers have got their finger out and come up with a thin enough 1080 solution to finally fit in the MB's lid.

If OEMs just upgraded the cameras from potato-cam to iPhone-equivalents, we wouldn't have to develop/resort to workarounds like Camo Studio, and Zoom meetings would've been much more pleasant during the pandemic.

Or if folk would've just invested in $5 desk lamps the crappy cameras they did have would have enough light to not need to resort to frame and pixel doubling for "low light enhancement" (potato camming). Even the horrendous MBA's camera was useable with some decent light on the subject.

The iPhones front and rear cameras were to thick for the Macbook Lid.

 

[chucker23n1]

Idiot hitting disagree without knowing anything about Hardware.

How typical of Macrumors.

All too common. People downvote when they dislike reality.

 

[coolkid93]

Lol only makes sense. Must be a slow news day

 

[Wags]

The next big thing? Thanks Apple bread crumbs.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Right, but complaining about meaningless specs is basically the point of this forum, lol.

Conceded!

 

[Rocko99991]

A whole 1080P in 2021!? Apple, you shouldn't have!

 

[Koh Phi Phi]

1080p is more than enough for a webcam. Asking for 4K HDR is ridiculous... it is a Zoom meeting for Pete's sake, not a Netflix blockbuster!

For me, the problem with Macbook webcams is not resolution but light processing, resulting in dark and grainy streams.

 

[docbop]

The upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro will feature an upgraded 1080p webcam, compared to the current 720p "FaceTime HD" camera in Apple's latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, according to a leaker who goes by the name "Dylandkt."

In a tweet, the leaker says that the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros will be receiving "an updated, improved 1080p webcam" alongside the "entire Mac lineup." Apple's most recent Mac, the 24-inch iMac, features a 1080p webcam; however, its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro continue to feature a 720p camera. While the quality of the webcam itself hasn't changed, Apple says that thanks to M1 and its latest image signal processor, image quality is improved on the MacBooks.

It's worth noting that "Dylandkt" has provided accurate information in the past. In November, five months before Apple announced its new iPad Pro, the account stated that Apple would bring the M1 chip to its next-generation iPad, which turned out to be accurate.

A few days before Apple's "Spring Loaded" event, which included the release of the redesigned 24-inch iMac, the account posted that the new Mac would feature an M1 chip, rather than an upgraded "M1X" iteration.

More recently, the account claimed that the "M2" chip will debut in updated and colorful MacBook Airs next year. The account added that the "M1X" chip is being reserved for high-end "Pro" Macs. Apple is expected to announce its redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with an upgraded Apple silicon processor, a new design, and more this fall.

Article Link: Upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro Rumored to Feature Upgraded 1080p Webcam

Interesting.... >>> MacBook Pro continue to feature a 720p camera. While the quality of the webcam itself hasn't changed, Apple says that thanks to M1 and its latest image signal processor, image quality is improved on the MacBooks. <<<<

So camera not changing just software/processing.

 

[jb-net]

This is only made possible by the superiority of Apple’s own M1X chip. All this powerful graphic cores and the deep integration with MacOS makes this possible. Apple is years ahead of its competition. No other notebook manufacture could possibly integrate a 1080p webcam in 2021.

Oh wait …

No, no, its better to wait until the tech is really ready and than do it be better then anybody else. I‘m sure this will be not like any other 1080p webcam out there but better in every possible way. Every single pixel will be improved by Apple‘s computational magic. It won‘t look like any other ordinary pixel, it will be completely different, maybe a round pixel or something. It will change the way we look at pixels. Something completely unheard of that only Apple could accomplish!

 

[Carlos_X_el_magnifco]

Every time this topic comes up you rafts of comments from folks who hate Apple in this regard yet have a strong belief that Apple is so magical it can suspend the laws of physics. Then you get folks who patiently explain why things are the way they are and they are ignored so that in a month or so we can have a carbon copy gripe fest led by the ignorant.

 

[Mr_Pickles_666]

Any news on external GPU support? Over the last 10 years Apple has made it less possible to upgrade your Mac laptop. On my 2019 MBP the eGPU is the last user upgradable component besides an external monitor. I'm waiting for the current CPU shortage to upgrade my GPU to keep my workflow humming along. If Apple locks out external AMD GPUs then I think I'll switch to a linux PC. It's been a great 15 year relationship Apple but you keep making toys instead of computers and restricting people's right to upgrade and repair their own computers. First it was hard drives soldered on, then it was RAM, then it was GPUs integrated with CPUs. I miss Steve Jobs. He made computers to do work with and Tim Apple just wants to sell consumer services. It's now about consumption and not producing things on your computer. You can build a PC of similar specs to the Mac Pro for about a third of the price. MacOS is good but is becoming iPadOS+ and is getting bloated with useless crap like widgets and Siri. I hardly ever use the Mac App Store as the apps I use (Photoshop, Maya, IntelliJ, DaVinci Resolve etc.) install directly from their website or from a terminal window. I can run linux, windows or both on AMD CPUs and Nvidia GPUs and keep up to date for far less hassle. I expect to keep my computers for about 5 years and unless a viable replacement comes in the form of a 14" mMBP with eGPU support then I'm going to look elsewhere. Steve Wozniak is now criticising the company he helped form as well. Apple is stifling innovation.

There has been news about egpu support but it has kinda been thrown under the rug and overlooked.

Apple has released Big Sur 11.4 with new drivers to support the AMD 6800 / 6800xt / 6900xt egpus. So expect Mac OS Monterey to probably also include the same new egpu support.

The thing is that with the prices of the amd 6000 series cards being so high and the availability being so bad, most people are not testing out this new egpu setup.

 

[Woochoo]

The world doesn't revolve around your camera needs. It's no secret an overwhelming amount of people who do video calls/stream often do not like the Webcam in the Macbook Pro & etc.

It'd be nice to not have to use an external DSLR just to have respectable video quality. It's overwhelmingly positive the reaction to people seeing you in much better video quality as well.

Whether it's for dating apps or professional meetings.

I have yet to see someone being complained about its video quality in a professional meeting unless you are using a potato laptop from 2005. The cherry on the cake is saying DSLR are the only way to have respectable video quality, that's being delusional. Ironically your first phrase fits you really well: the world doesn't revolve about your camera needs, which seem to be pretty higher than even the strictest standards. Not to say most streaming services that compress the image to the point of making higher quality pretty pointless.

 

[bradl]

I have yet to see someone being complained about its video quality in a professional meeting unless you are using a potato laptop from 2005. The cherry on the cake is saying DSLR are the only way to have respectable video quality, that's being delusional. Ironically your first phrase fits you really well: the world doesn't revolve about your camera needs, which seem to be pretty higher than even the strictest standards. Not to say most streaming services that compress the image to the point of making higher quality pretty pointless.

For the record, I have the same poor video quality my wife has on her 2019 15" MBP.

I am still on a mid-2011 13" MBA. The camera specs on both machines are the exact same, despite being 8 years difference between them. I use my Mac for livestreaming for our business. The problem with it, especially on the MBA, is that it puts a high load on the CPU and causes the fans to spin heavily. If the MBA couldn't handle it, the MBP would still give the same poor quality. One of my biggest holdouts for getting a new Mac has been the camera, let alone the processor. Now with M1 out, if they update the camera in the next MBP, I'm definitely pulling the trigger.

BL.

 

[anshuvorty]

I have yet to see someone being complained about its video quality in a professional meeting unless you are using a potato laptop from 2005. The cherry on the cake is saying DSLR are the only way to have respectable video quality, that's being delusional. Ironically your first phrase fits you really well: the world doesn't revolve about your camera needs, which seem to be pretty higher than even the strictest standards. Not to say most streaming services that compress the image to the point of making higher quality pretty pointless.

I loathe the day when US internet speeds get realistic with the demands we place on it and we can reliably stream high quality and high bitrate video and make use of these high quality cameras without compression muddying things up considerably.

Biden's Anti-Trust moves along with the nomination of Lina Khan to the head of the FTC are a move in the right direction.

 

[chucker23n1]

I am still on a mid-2011 13" MBA. The camera specs on both machines are the exact same, despite being 8 years difference between them.

Yes, well, physics didn’t change considerably in those 8 years. Optical sensors don’t improve at the pace chips do.

 

[anshuvorty]

Yes, well, physics didn’t change considerably in those 8 years. Optical sensors don’t improve at the pace chips do.

Then, prey, please tell me, how in the world is it possible for the iPhone cameras to look so much better than these webcams? I mean, it should be pretty simple just transplanting the iPhone sensor into the MacBook lid, right?

 

[Tomasulu]

Can we have a new powerbrick while we are at it? Need to retire the ridiculous ears for winding up the cable.

 

[Tomasulu]

Yes, well, physics didn’t change considerably in those 8 years. Optical sensors don’t improve at the pace chips do.

Be it as it may, Apple could’ve easily done this upgrade 5 years back.

 

[anshuvorty]

Be it as it may, Apple could’ve easily done this upgrade 5 years back.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing!

 

[jk73]

Then, prey, please tell me, how in the world is it possible for the iPhone cameras to look so much better than these webcams? I mean, it should be pretty simple just transplanting the iPhone sensor into the MacBook lid, right?

The iPhone is thicker than an MBP lid.

Can we have a new powerbrick while we are at it? Need to retire the ridiculous ears for winding up the cable.

I have a 2016 MBP and the charger doesn’t have those. Did Apple bring those back after 2016?

 

[chucker23n1]

Then, prey, please tell me, how in the world is it possible for the iPhone cameras to look so much better than these webcams? I mean, it should be pretty simple just transplanting the iPhone sensor into the MacBook lid, right?

Because iPhones are about thrice as thick.

The lid on a MacBook is about 2mm. An iPhone is about 7.5mm.

Now, could Apple make the lid thicker? Or add a camera bump? Yes. But could they easily fit the iPhone front-facing camera into the current MacBook lid? No, not even remotely.

 

[chucker23n1]

Be it as it may, Apple could’ve easily done this upgrade 5 years back.

As soon as they find a sensor that fits, is significantly better, and can be produced at volumes of tens of millions a year, sure.

 

[kieguru]

What phone with a decent camera is 2mm thick?

The lid of a MBP is about 5mm thick. The Sony Xperia Z Ultra from 2013 was 6.5mm thick and had a 1080p front camera.

 

[chucker23n1]

The lid of a MBP is about 5mm thick.

I doubt that. You also have to subtract the outer shell — the sensor has to fit inside.

 

[Frixos]

The 720p FaceTime HD camera camera on my 2013 Macbook Air is fantastic as compared the cameras from 2018 on. They went backwards in quality for the sake a thin bezel. I don’t care about 720vs1080. I won’t buy another Macbook until the quality of the camera in regular light improves.

The 720p camera quality on my M1 MBA is definitely higher than the quality on my 2013 MBP 720p camera.

on my 2013, if there was any backlighting, you couldn’t see my face. On the M1, the picture is still great even with some backlighting.