Video: Testing Continuity Camera With Belkin's iPhone MagSafe Mount

[actripxl]

I bought this on launch day as I was flying to Europe and I wanted to use the stand function so I could watch movies. I love the stand but I use the ring to have a better grip on my phone since the magnet feels good.

You can only use this with laptops as there is no way to attach this to a monitor.

 

[GraXXoR]

They should make one for side mounting on an iPad Pro that still has the vertical camera.

 

[macduke]

The first thing I’m gonna print when my first 3D printer arrives next month is print a mount for my 5K iMac. And then a MagSafe mount for my car that fits my existing ball joint arm because my iOttie Qi charger finally died.

 

[svish]

Hopefully the mount does not damage the Macbook. Could have been cheaper.

 

[smoking monkey]

It’s nice but better off getting one of those mini-ish bendy tripods. More multi purpose but a bit more hassle transporting it.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

So does this cover the notch too?

 

[DarkSam]

So does this cover the notch too?

No it doesn’t.
There is a night and day difference between the builtin webcam (on 14 inch MacBook) and this.
Have been using regularly for office meetings and interviews since last one month no complaints about scratching or tilting of hinge (unless i put it way to forward or back. But you shouldn’t be doing that in the first place because camera goes out of position.
Works on portrait mode too but for some reason its a bit more zoomed in.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

No it doesn’t.
There is a night and day difference between the builtin webcam (on 14 inch MacBook) and this.
Have been using regularly for office meetings and interviews since last one month no complaints about scratching or tilting of hinge (unless i put it way to forward or back. But you shouldn’t be doing that in the first place because camera goes out of position.
Works on portrait mode too but for some reason its a bit more zoomed in.

I’ve been using Continuity camera with my tripod. This thing for $30 is ridiculous…says the guy with a $1000 phone. lol

 

[Born Again]

love the video - thanks OP

 

[imspace2]

I Ns just tore the MagSafe sticker out of an old case and stuck it high on the back of my MacBook Air voila. Holds my 13 pro max perfectly!

 

[iSayuSay]

Such a missed opportunity for Tim Cook! Apple could’ve sold a Macbook Air without any built-in camera. Want the camera for the Mac? Buy an iPhone.

Mounted with MagSafe ring on the backtop of Macbook chassis, it could be another cash grab? It’s silly but still better than iPad 10/Apple Pencil adapter joke?

 

[targa88]

So this only works for iPhones with MagSafe?

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Works very well. Been using it often for Facetime, Skype, and WhatsApp Desktop. Bought the Belkin mount as soon as it was released, no complaints with it.

My only issue is the "Desk View" feature. I'm I missing something? Why does it act like a separate app? And why does it leave the picture so distorted? I can't figure out how to use it properly. Is this some ALPHA feature?

 

[preetb]

Apple with macOS Ventura and iOS 16 introduced a new feature called Continuity Camera, which is designed to allow you to use an iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. This is enabled through special mounts, and Apple partnered with Belkin for an official Continuity Camera accessory.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks is available from Apple for $30, though it's backordered until December and difficult to get. It's the only official Continuity Camera mount so far, though you can find some knockoffs and other versions on Amazon.

Belkin's mount basically attaches to an iPhone using MagSafe, and then a lipped stand on the back folds out. The stand fits right over the edge of a Mac notebook like a MacBook Pro or a MacBook air, and it puts the iPhone in the ideal position to capture video.

You can use the mount in landscape or portrait orientation, with portrait showing a bit less of the background behind you. The camera activates automatically when your iPhone is mounted to your Mac and an app like FaceTime is opened up.

It's a super simple accessory that's probably overpriced, but it does work well. The iPhone camera is leagues better than what you get on a Mac, even Apple's newest Macs, so it's worth it if you do a lot of video calls.

Continuity Camera has extra features like Center Stage support to keep you in frame if you move around, Portrait Mode for blurring the background, Studio Light for focusing the light on you, and a Desk View that shows what's on your desktop by taking advantage of the Ultra Wide camera.

You can also use the Belkin mount as a kickstand for the iPhone when it's not attached to the Mac, and it also serves as a PopSocket alternative.

Have you tried the Belkin iPhone Mount and Continuity Camera? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Article Link: Video: Testing Continuity Camera With Belkin's iPhone MagSafe Mount

What a stupid kluge to compensate for lacking cameras on Macs.

 

[thhh]

Can I use my iPhone 11 as webcam on my 2022 1500 EUR iPad Pro 12.9“ to correct the madness with the cam on the wrong position??

 

[davidf18]

I’ve been using Continuity camera with my tripod. This thing for $30 is ridiculous…says the guy with a $1000 phone. lol

The Belkin mount is much smaller and compact than a Tripod that could do the same thing.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

The Belkin mount is much smaller and compact than a Tripod that could do the same thing.

Yeah, but one of them I’ve already bought and serves my purpose.

 

[_Spinn_]

Seems like it works well.

 

[addamas]

Did I just see that with this mode phone screen is turned on all the time?!

It should be holder and charger at the same time

 

[neuropsychguy]

What about Apple finally giving their $3k laptops a decent webcam?

They already did. This is for people who want even higher quality from what’s in their phones.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

A good solution for many would be to 3D print a bracket that attaches to their device of choice, then glue that to a cheap MagSafe peripheral or indeed just a series of magnets. Not the prettiest solution but it would at least allow for plenty of customisation, and be a lot cheaper.

 

[jaknudsen]

Looking forward to the $5 knockoffs.

 

[Eric_WVGG]

I think the improvement you'd see with a front-facing camera vs. a MacBook's webcam would be a lot more modest than with the rear-facing camera.

Disagree. If the rear camera is subjectively ten times better, the front camera is probably a solid nine.

Continuity Camera is really good but there's room for improvement. Apple has this tendency to release things, wipe their hands and say "GOOD ENUF" and I hope this isn't one of those. (see Touch Bar)

 

[FreakinEurekan]

It is a disappointment for me. Works well, but there is no way to use the front camera, which would make perfect sense, since, my phone is in a dock facing me all day. Why does literally no review even mention this?

Just because a feature doesn't meet every use case, doesn't make it a bad feature. Drop a suggestion at https://www.apple.com/feedback/

 

[arhonallee]

Apple with macOS Ventura and iOS 16 introduced a new feature called Continuity Camera, which is designed to allow you to use an iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. This is enabled through special mounts, and Apple partnered with Belkin for an official Continuity Camera accessory.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks is available from Apple for $30, though it's backordered until December and difficult to get. It's the only official Continuity Camera mount so far, though you can find some knockoffs and other versions on Amazon.

Belkin's mount basically attaches to an iPhone using MagSafe, and then a lipped stand on the back folds out. The stand fits right over the edge of a Mac notebook like a MacBook Pro or a MacBook air, and it puts the iPhone in the ideal position to capture video.

You can use the mount in landscape or portrait orientation, with portrait showing a bit less of the background behind you. The camera activates automatically when your iPhone is mounted to your Mac and an app like FaceTime is opened up.

It's a super simple accessory that's probably overpriced, but it does work well. The iPhone camera is leagues better than what you get on a Mac, even Apple's newest Macs, so it's worth it if you do a lot of video calls.

Continuity Camera has extra features like Center Stage support to keep you in frame if you move around, Portrait Mode for blurring the background, Studio Light for focusing the light on you, and a Desk View that shows what's on your desktop by taking advantage of the Ultra Wide camera.

You can also use the Belkin mount as a kickstand for the iPhone when it's not attached to the Mac, and it also serves as a PopSocket alternative.

Have you tried the Belkin iPhone Mount and Continuity Camera? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Article Link: Video: Testing Continuity Camera With Belkin's iPhone MagSafe Mount

To be honest I highly doubt that this feature will be used my the majority of Mac users. I never had a zoom call, where at the end, I told the other person to get a better webcam so I can see you more clearly. Of course the ultra wide feature is really handy for some users but remember the object has to be mostly flat or it is going to be out of proportion. In addition, if I would use the iPhone as a camera, I wouldn't be able to use my phone anymore to look something up which actually happens quite often during a zoom call. Really nice of course would be, if next to my zoom call, I could see my phone on the screen and still use it thru the Mac but that is wishful thinking.