Apple Releases Second Studio Display 15.5 Firmware Beta With Webcam Update - MacRumors
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Apple Releases Second Studio Display 15.5 Firmware Beta With Webcam Update

Apple today released a second beta version of new 15.5 firmware that's coming to the Studio Display, with the software coming one week after the launch of the first beta. The ‌Studio Display‌ firmware is designed to improve the function of the webcam on the device.

studio display webcam
All ‌Studio Display‌ models are able to receive over-the-air firmware updates, but this firmware update is limited to Macs that are running the ‌macOS Monterey‌ 12.4 beta at the current time. After installing the macOS 12.4 beta, ‌Studio Display‌ owners can go to System Preferences > Software Update to install the firmware.

Apple in March promised a firmware update for the ‌Studio Display‌ to address an issue with the webcam.

The ‌Studio Display‌ is equipped with a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera that supports Center Stage, but ‌Studio Display‌ reviewers and owners have discovered that the camera consistently produces grainy, washed-out images, which Apple has said is the result of the system to not behaving as expected. The firmware brings updated "camera tuning, improved noise reduction, contrast, and framing."

Related Roundup: Studio Display
Buyer's Guide: Displays (Buy Now)
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Top Rated Comments

odHbo Avatar
52 months ago
*** Ignoring all comments until someone says they have actually done the update so we can talk about the actual results of the update. ***
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeLaSoul Avatar
52 months ago
“The best firmware update for the Studio Display we ever released”
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FasterQuieter Avatar
52 months ago
Such a wasted opportunity and cheapskate move not putting a great camera in this monitor. It should have had the front iPhone camera at the very least. For the amount they are charging, the main back camera is not unreasonable. It would have been a great way to distinguish the monitor as well. Webcams are very important to people now. If it was known this monitor had the best webcam out there, many would buy it for that reason alone.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
52 months ago

How do you know this?
Because there's nothing to fix. Apple took an image sensor from a device that, relatively, is far smaller than the Studio Display. You blow up that image, it's obviously going to magnify the pixels and produce worse image quality on a larger screen. But they didn't just stop there, they actually used a wide-angle lens and need to crop the image just to keep one person in the centre of the frame - whilst using AI to alter the perspective.

The real question is why Apple didn't use a higher quality sensor, such as the selfie camera from their iPhones.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
52 months ago
Apple made a huge mistake putting a ultra wide for centre stage 99% of people just sit in front of there screen and not use centre stage and if they put a normal wide camera like the iPhone 13 one it would be epic quality, it’s not like a laptops the display is thick so they could or put the iPhone sensor in it
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
izzle22 Avatar
52 months ago
So are there any productive posts out there that address whether this beta has made any improvements? Or just continuous bashing from folks that don't want or can't afford the display? Asking for a friend...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)