FaceTime camera not good enough on the Mac? You can use your iPhone as a webcam with macOS Ventura

Apple’s upcoming macOS Ventura brings a host of new productivity upgrades including Stage Manager, a feature that makes multitasking a breeze. For those who still make lots of video calls during the new normal, Apple has introduced Camera Continuity which turns your iPhone into a webcam for Mac devices.

If you already own an ecosystem of Apple products, your iPhone probably has the best cameras of the lot. With Continuity Camera, just place your iPhone near your MacBook or Mac, and it will automatically use your iPhone as the main camera input for your computer. According to Apple, this feature will work if you have an iPhone XR and above. Similar to other Apple continuity features, the devices are connected wirelessly and all you’ll need is an accessory to attach the iPhone on the top of your Mac.

If you own an iPhone with an ultra-wide-angle camera such as the iPhone 11 and above, you can get Centre Stage which will intelligently keep you in the centre of the video call even when you move around. Probably the most mind-blowing feature is Desk View which works as an overhead camera without adjusting the angle of the iPhone.

Desk View can work simultaneously while showing an on-cam view. This means other video call attendees can see your face while you’re demonstrating something on the table. As explained during the keynote, this is made possible with intelligent image processing and the sample video looks like it came from a camera that’s attached to the ceiling.

If your background isn’t that great, you can also activate the iPhone’s portrait mode to add bokeh. During tough lighting situations, you could also play around with studio lights to brighten up your face while darkening the background. According to Apple, the Camera Continuity feature works not only with FaceTime but also with other video conference apps including Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Webex.

macOS Ventura also introduces Handoff for FaceTime which allows users to switch between different Apple devices seamlessly. If you start a FaceTime call from your iPad, the feature lets you switch to your Mac with just a click. And if you need to go, you can continue the call by transferring the call back to your iPhone.

Apple says they are also working with Belkin to introduce stand accessories to hold your iPhone at the perfect angle. These accessories are expected to be released later this year and there’s no pricing at the moment.