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Founded in April 2016, OBSBOT, an artificial intelligence camera brand by REMO TECH, develops a variety of AI-powered cameras offering various features that make the brand stand out from all the other webcam options on the market.

The OBSBOT Tiny is their most famous camera, which has full PTZ functionality and can use AI to auto-track your face during calls giving you the flexibility to move around.

Specification

  • Max video resolution: 1080p/30 fps, MJPEG, H264
  • Supported resolutions: 1920×1080, 1280×720, 960×540, 640×360
  • Digital zoom: 2x
  • Field of view: 90°
  • Built-in Audio: Built-in dual omni-directional mics with noise cancellation
  • Max control speed: 120°/s
  • PTZ Controllable range: Pan: ±150°,Tilt: ±45°
  • Size ( without mount ): 89.4mm x 58mm x 58mm
  • Weight ( without mount ): 146g

Design & Features

As you would expect from a PTZ camera, the overall design is a bit different from normal web cameras. It is physically much larger than other options I have used, but its design means it can happily sit on your design or any other flat surface.

You then have a monitor clamp that magnetically attaches to the camera and provides a secure mounting position for laptops or thinner monitors.

There’s also a 1/4-20 threaded insert directly on the bottom of the camera if you want to use it with a tripod or some other compatible mount.

The camera has a USB-C port and a DC power port, I am not too sure what the need for the DC port is, because USB provides the power to the camera.

OBSBOT app & hand gestures

The camera has various hand gesture options, which means you don’t actually need an app to control it.

Using a flat palm facing towards the camera will initial the AI face tracking, and the camera will follow you about. Then creating an L shape with your index finger and thumb will zoom in by two times

However, with the OBSBOT app, you gain control of the camera via your PC, including changing image settings and updating the firmware. Using the app also means you do not have to carry out weird hand gestures while on camera, if people do not know about the OBSBOT, it looks a bit weird you throwing L shaped hand gestures up to everyone.

Performance

Performance is good; the overall picture quality is significantly better than the built-in webcam on a laptop and also superior to affordable webcams such as Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2.

I tend to keep my office dimly lit to avoid monitor glare, and I found the camera performed fine in this scenario. Like many webcams, it will likely struggle in darker environments, but I can’t imagine many works from home scenarios where this would be an issue.

While I am more than happy with the camera performance for my personal usage, it is basically the same sort of quality you will find on other mid-range webcams at a much lower price point. Webcams, in general, have quite poor sensors when comparing to the likes of phones or actual cameras.

OBSBOT claim that the camera also provides AI auto-exposure and white balance, which should allow it to outperform other cameras, however, I don’t have other decent quality webcams to compare against.

The PTZ is excellent, it just gives you a bit more flexibility with where you sit and your overall movement during calls. I’m not ADHD or anything, move around a lot and get distracted by things while on call, and this just helps keep me in focus, for better or worse.

The PTZ isn’t ultra-fast, you can’t run around your room, and it follows you, but most small movements will track with ease.

The built-in microphone is good, but it won’t compete with a dedicated mic, and if you are going to the expense of a PTZ webcam, I don’t see why you wouldn’t also use a good quality microphone.

Price and Alternative Options

The OBSBOT Tiny is available for £179 on Amazon, but there is also a £20 off voucher taking it down to £159.

What is interesting is the complete lack of comparable products at this price point. There are a few PTZ conference room cameras. However, with these being aimed at business, the price is much higher.

However, if you are looking to upgrade the built-in webcam of your laptop, then there are many options, some of which will give a superior picture quality and better low light performance.

OSBOT have some interesting alternative options of their own, there is the OSBOT Meet which offers built-in AI blurring, which offers superior performance than software options.

There is also the OBSBOT Tail which is more geared towards on the move vlogging but would work as a webcam too.

Then they are launching the OBSBOT Tiny 4K, which significantly improves the image quality and includes things like HDR.

Overall

A couple of years ago, I may have viewed an AI auto-tracking PTZ webcam as something very niche, but times have changed.

With many people now working from home full time and Zoom meetings the norm, there are going to be a lot of people that will find this useful.

With the PTZ feature, you have much more flexibility with your zoom meetings; you are not forced to sit down in one physical spot.

The PTZ functionality does come with a premium price; something like the Razer Kiyo Streamer would offer similar if not better image quality at a much lower price point. Or the Logitech Brio Ultra offers significantly better quality at the same price (but no PTZ).

Overall, I love that the OBSBOT Tiny is such a unique camera, and its features will be genuinely useful for many people.

OBSBOT Tiny PTZ Webcam Review Rating

Summary

The OBSBOT Tiny is an excellent and unique camera giving you much more flexibility to move around during zoom calls. How useful that is to you will depend on the person.

Overall
80%
80%
  • Overall - 80%
    80%

Pros

  • AI PTZ functionality is genuinely useful and an unrivalled feature from other brands

Cons

  • Overall camera performance won’t be much better than cheaper cameras

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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