Some M1 series Macbook users claim webcam quality tanked after macOS 15.1 update

The recent macOS 15.1 update has left some M1 series MacBook users complaining about a sudden drop in camera quality. Users report that their built-in FaceTime HD cameras now appear “grainy” and significantly worse than before, affecting video calls and recordings across all apps.

Complaints began popping up shortly after the macOS 15.1 update dropped last week. One MacBook user on the MacRumors forums shared that their camera looked “almost unusable” right after the update, despite being fine just hours before. Multiple M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air owners quickly chimed in to confirm the same issue on their devices.

Users describe the camera quality as looking like an old 480p video with visible noise, particularly in low-light environments. “It feels like a 2015 webcam now,” one forum member commented. Another user joked that the image quality looked like “a worn-out 1980s VHS.”

For most, this graininess is unwelcome, as the previous image quality was sharper and clearer, even if it used a smoothing filter. However, a few users note they prefer the more natural look, finding it closer to a “raw feed” that doesn’t smooth faces as much. Still, a majority agree it’s a downgrade in terms of clarity and overall quality, especially since it affects all video-based applications.

The issue doesn’t seem to be affecting other Macbook models. My Macbook Air with the M2 chip doesn’t exhibit this problem, nor did I find any complaints from others online. Curious if this was a fixable glitch, users have turned to Apple’s Feedback Assistant to report the issue, while some are even looking toward the macOS 15.2 beta as a potential remedy. So far, Apple has yet to release an official statement or acknowledge the problem. But one user claims Apple’s support informed them that it’s a known issues.

For now, M1 MacBook users who rely on video calls for work or school are dealing with the issue by increasing lighting or adjusting settings to reduce the grainy effect. But without an immediate fix in sight, many are left hoping Apple is already working behind the scenes to smooth things out in the next update.