Today, the first reviews of Apple's new Studio Display were published online. Although they were mostly positive, there was one clear problem that was highlighted in many reviews: the quality of the webcam. Now Apple has spoken out and promised a software update.
Critics at The Verge, The Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere have harshly criticized the Studio Display's integrated camera. Apple had high expectations for the Studio Display's camera. It's a 12 MP ultra-wide sensor with support for Center Stage. It's essentially the same 12 MP ultra-wide lens the company has used in other products, such as the iPad. In the press release announcing the Studio Display, Apple touts this camera as making the Studio Display the "ultimate display for video conferencing."
Equipped with the A13 Bionic chip, the Studio Display delivers amazing experiences with its advanced camera and audio system. The ultimate video conferencing display features a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps users in the center of the frame as they move to make video calls even more engaging.
However, initial reports on the Studio Display make it clear that this isn't the case. In his review for The Verge, Nilay Patel writes that the Studio Display's camera looks "terrible in good light and downright abysmal in low light."
Studio Display: Apple wants to fix webcam problems with software update
Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal compared the camera performance to that of an "old BlackBerry." The Verge reports that it contacted Apple about these issues, and the company has promised a software update with improvements. Apple shared Patel said his team "has investigated the images you shared and discovered an issue where the system isn't behaving as expected. We'll be making improvements in a software update." Unfortunately, there's currently no timeline for this software update, nor are there any details on what exactly the software update will fix. However, as previously reported, the integration of the A13 Bionic into the Studio Display means it can receive software updates and improve over time. (Image: Apple)
