At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Amazing software program utility bundle
- 4K, 1080p/60Hz choices
- AI glowups work
- Smooth, configurable zoom
- PDAF autofocus
Cons
- Magnetic connection to the mount is a bit flimsy
- Stick-on privateness shutter
Our Verdict
This tiny little 4K webcam asks for just a few {dollars} greater than its competitors, however it’s value it.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
$129
Best Prices Today: Obsbot Meet 2
The Obsbot Meet 2 stands out as the tiniest 4K webcam I’ve ever seen. Mounted in your laptop computer or monitor by a magnetic mount, the Meet 2 delivers surprisingly strong high quality for such a tiny system, although the corporate insists {that a} stick-on privateness shutter is simpler than a flip-over lid.
The digicam is available in three completely different colours: grey, white, and a faintly metallic “aurora green,” and may both use the Windows settings for digicam controls or Obsbot’s personal utility software program. Inside the field is the webcam, the mount, and a USB-C to USB-C cable that stretches a really beneficiant 4.5 toes. (Obsbot additionally tosses in an USB-A adapter for older laptops.)
The Meet 2 presents as much as 4K (30Hz) on the prime finish, with numerous decrease resolutions (together with 1080p, at each 60Hz and 30Hz) as you step down. The Meet 2 options what’s referred to as Phase Detection Auto Focus, or PDAF, a really fast approach to choose up and focus in your face. The Meet 2 additionally does a stellar job of cropping into your face, offering as much as 4X digital zoom, which is greater than what you’ll want for the standard video name.
I’m not an enormous fan of the Meet 2’s mini-magnetic mount, although it does have one benefit that different webcams don’t: Three out of the 4 sides of the webcam are magnetic, so the webcam can sit in panorama mode or rotate into portrait mode just by selecting it up and repositioning it. The magnetic grip is robust sufficient to carry the webcam tight on the mount when linked to a monitor or fastened show, although you’ll should be conscious of its grip on a laptop computer: Moving it rapidly round may trigger it to wiggle and even fall.
Mark Hachman / Foundry
Some webcams use an angled “jaws” mount, in order that the webcam sits flat and a hinged jaw helps it by leaning again into the show. In this case, Obsbot added an additional “lip” or flat floor to the highest of the mount, upon which the Meet 2 magnetically attaches. It works simply high-quality on a desktop monitor or show.
On a laptop computer, although, the burden of the cable all the time threatens to yank the webcam off, particularly as you’re orienting it for the primary time. It’s a weak level. The Meet 2 digicam itself additionally contains the usual threaded gap in order that it may be screwed into an exterior mount, if that’s your choice.
In half, the fragility is a consequence of the webcam’s small dimension. It solely measures 1.78 x 1.4 x 0.87 inches and weighs about 1.5 ounces.
Mark Hachman / Foundry
Again, I’m not an enormous fan of the privateness safety, which requires you to snap on a small privateness cowl that’s held magnetically. Of course, you may also lose the privateness protector, too, in the event you put it down and it disappears into the litter. You’re most likely higher off sticking it to the aspect of the digicam itself, or beneath the mount. That labored nicely.
Windows can be utilized to regulate the webcam itself — full with upcoming controls for pan and tilt — or you should use the Obsbot software program. Previous Obsbot webcams, just like the stellar Tiny 4K, used a swiveling AI gimbal to actually observe you across the room. The Meet 2 is fastened, with no pivot factors for it to do this. But it may use the 4K decision to crop and zoom and “follow” you as you progress, or accommodate both tight photographs on simply you or a gaggle of individuals in body. Here, it actually can’t do an excessive amount of past what even Windows’ “panning” capabilities can deal with.
Obsbot continues to supply one of the crucial refined software program utility packages of any webcam I’ve examined, and the corporate places an incredible quantity of labor into the varied choices. The solely hitch is that the Obsbot Center management software program won’t let you preview any modifications whereas one other Windows app that makes use of the digicam is open. Obsbot Control isn’t obligatory for the digicam to work, and the bundle is 450MB by itself. But it lures you in with its comfort alone.
Mark Hachman / Foundry
Samsung started providing “beauty” choices ages in the past, however Obsbot gives them by the truckload: choices to slim your face, add digital blush and eye shadow, regulate the place of your nostril, even rotate your eyes. Want your eyes to glitter? Obsbot’s software program permits you to do this. Filters? Of course. There are packages for each men and women, and that’s not even together with the tweaks you may make to your digital look whereas standing up.
About the one deficiency I discovered is that the software program appears to be packaged for all of Obsbot’s cameras, so sure features (just like the gimbal on Obsbot’s Tiny cameras) are there however unavailable. I additionally wasn’t in a position to pressure the webcam to lock on or zoom in utilizing gestures.
Yes, it does sound like overkill. And it’s, in locations: You actually don’t have to dial up the “smoothing” options except you need your face to look artificially younger. Accept your self for who you might be, even when this webcam encourages you to the touch issues up right here and there.
Obsbot Meet 2: (Superb) Performance
Inside the Meet 2 is a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor and ƒ/1.8 giant aperture — maybe not probably the most highly effective within the business, however able to delivering nice visuals nonetheless. The digicam did a really good job selecting up my face, lit with my monitor and a few ambient gentle down in my workplace. Just tweaking a filter right here and there improved it even additional, maybe indicating that AI has a future in webcams.
Mark Hachman / Foundry
I turned off the entire help in capturing photographs, nevertheless, as I usually do.
Upstairs in my lounge, lit by all pure gentle, the Meet 2 additionally carried out nicely. I figured that whereas my couch pillows did a pleasant job conveying colours, a extra unified colour card could be a greater answer. Everything appears to be like good, to my eye.
I didn’t discover as a lot distinction as I believed I’d between the 4K and 1080p resolutions. I favored how this webcam made me look simply utilizing the 1080p, 60fps/Hz preset. I’ve all the time been a fan of zooming in a bit, and the sliding zoom controls on this webcam do a superb job of permitting you to tweak issues as you’d like.
Mark Hachman / Foundry
Obsbot has a pair of of omnidirectional mics contained in the Meet 2, and I believed they did a really good job of capturing my voice and eliminating background audio. Since most individuals naturally deal with the picture high quality, the audio is the place some webcams skate by with poorer high quality.
The Obsbot Meet 2 presents pictures that rank slightly below the class’s finest, a perform of wonderful {hardware} and an built-in software program bundle that ranks second to none.
Should you purchase the Obsbot Meet 2?
Yes. There are two sticking factors: the mount (high-quality for the digicam, however a threat to be yanked off by the cable) and the dearth of an built-in privateness shutter. Otherwise, the excellent software program bundle and controls, plus the webcam itself, greater than make up for it.
The Obsbot Meet 2 could also be considerably on the pricier aspect for a 4K digicam at roughly $100. You can go cheaper and nonetheless purchase a 4K webcam. But I believe that the Obsboot Meet 2 may make it into the ranks of PCWorld’s best webcams, even so.