Apple has detailed the new Continuity Camera feature in macOS Ventura and iOS 16 in a just-released yout support document, offering specs, instructions, and tips for the feature that turns an iPhone into a webcam for Mac.
How does Continuity Camera work?
Continuity Camera is a new feature in macOS Ventura that lets users use an iPhone as a webcam on their Mac. This novelty works wirelessly or wired in FaceTime, Zoom, and other video apps. With it, users will get video directly from their iPhone’s rear camera, which is significantly higher in quality than the built-in camera on Macs.
Continuity Camera also allows users to use different effects from their iPhone. For the first time on Mac, for example, users can use the iPhone’s wide camera to activate the Center Stage effect. Studio Light, Portrait and Desk View modes, which simultaneously show a user’s desk and face, are also available for making professional-looking video tutorials.
To attach an iPhone to a MacBook, users can purchase a new Belkin iPhone Holder that attaches an iPhone to the top bezel of a MacBook. This support is sold at a price of 34.95 euros and is available on Apple’s online store.
According to the support document, users will need an iPhone running iOS 16 or later and a Mac with macOS Ventura to use Continuity Camera. Additionally, users must be signed in to the same Apple ID on both devices with two-factor authentication enabled, and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi must also be enabled. It is a function that uses the same resources as Handoff, AirDrop, Sidecar and other Universal Control.