Microsoft Modern Webcam review: This $55 webcam makes you look good, but you'll need a better mic
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Video conferencingMicrosoft Mod Webcam review: This $55 webcam makes you look good, but y'all'll demand a better mic
Microsoft's first webcam in years ships with "Teams Certification." 
Source: Microsoft
Looking for a new webcam to accompany your work from dwelling house (or even in-office) setup? Microsoft has yous covered with its "Modern Webcam" that is also "Teams Certified," meaning it's ready for apply with Teams without much hassle. Of form, this webcam volition work fine in any app, simply the Teams Certified postage stamp is in that location to let you know that if yous use Teams, this is the accessory for you.
It's been a scattering of years since Microsoft last shipped a webcam, then it's proficient to run across the visitor is dorsum with something new. Sadly, this isn't a flagship webcam, meaning it's not 4K or includes support for Windows Hello facial recognition. It's but a webcam designed for video conferencing, and it does a great chore at that, albeit with a few caveats.
At that place are a lot of great webcams out in that location, so make certain you cheque out our roundup of best webcams for Windows PCs in 2022! I've been using the Microsoft Modern Webcam for a trivial over a calendar month now. Here'south my review:
Microsoft Modern Webcam
Bottom line: The Microsoft Modern Webcam is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a 1080p webcam for video conferencing on a upkeep. With a built-in privacy shutter, clear video, and smooth depression-light operation.
The Good
- Easy setup
- Compact pattern
- Shine low-light performance
- Affordable price
The Bad
- Born microphone is not good
- Accessories app needs work
- No Windows Hello
| Category | Microsoft Modern Webcam |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Length: 1.99 inches (l.53mm) Width: 1.42 inches (36.05mm) Depth: 2.94 inches (74.58mm) |
| Weight | 0.21 pounds (88.3g) |
| Outside | Forepart window: glass, polished black Tripod mount: copper, glossy silver Other components: plastic/TPE/rubber, matte black |
| Sensor | 1080p 30 FPS video output 1.4um 10 1.4um HDR Auto exposure Auto white residual Automobile anti-flicker Expansive 78-degree field of view |
| Cable length | 59.1 inches (1.5 meters) |
| Inputs | USB-A cable |
| Audio codec | PCM, 16bit, 16kHz sampling |
| Compatibility | Windows eight/i Windows 10 Windows xi macOS x.15+ |
Modern Webcam: Price and availability
Source: Windows Primal
The Microsoft Modern Webcam is available direct from the Microsoft Store for an MSRP of $70. Still, right now, yous can take hold of the webcam for simply $55, making information technology a practiced bargain no thing the downsides. It can also be institute on Amazon; however, prices at that place frequently fluctuate above and below $70.
Modern Webcam: What's expert
Source: Windows Central
The Microsoft Modern Webcam is a small, sleek, and functional photographic camera that sits on height of your monitor with the included stand/tripod mountain. It's available in a glossy black terminate, and looks super clean in whatever setup. It has a built-in privacy shield that uses satisfying magnets to snap open and shut, with the shut position besides cutting camera feed in addition to actually covering the lens. When active, there's a minor ring light that surrounds the sensor letting yous know that the camera is on.
It's too designed to be plug and play, meaning yous can just insert the USB-A cable into your PC and y'all should be expert to go, with no real setup required. That said, if you practice want to customize the webcam, Microsoft does have an app called the "Microsoft Accompaniment Center" that will allow yous to practise merely that. Here, y'all can alter settings such equally color temperature, HDR on or off, auto white rest, and more.
Here are all the things you tin can configure with the Microsoft Accessory Center app:
- HDR on/off
- Retouch on/off
- Brightness
- Contrast
- Saturation
- Sharpness
- White remainder
- Car exposure
- Flicker reduction
- Webcam mic on/off
The camera performance itself perfectly acceptable. It is a 1080p shooter, featuring a 78-degree field of view, back up for HDR, automobile exposure, motorcar white balance, and anti-flicker capabilities. It's a well-rounded sensor that looks great in well-lit environments. Microsoft does a good task at adjusting exposure then that your face is always the almost visible, even if y'all have a bright source of lite such equally as window directly backside yous.
I did come abroad rather impressed with this webcam's low-lite performance too. While still quite noisy, the webcam didn't driblet frames in an attempt to open up the sensor and allow more light in. I remained polish in video, which is neat to see and makes a big difference when presenting in video calls.
I also found this photographic camera doesn't randomly hunt for focus as much as some others do. My Logitech BRIO 4K is really prone to randomly hunting for focus on my face, even though I hadn't moved much in the frame. I've not noticed this behavior on the Microsoft Modern Webcam.
Modern Webcam: What's non adept
Source: Windows Central
In our testing, the Microsoft Accessory Center app needs some work. We constitute that information technology will oftentimes forget settings, and it will sometimes not apply color temperature settings even after selecting them from the drop-downward carte. This isn't a huge deal, as information technology takes a few seconds to go back into the app to reapply the settings, but it is a little annoying.
Some of the color temperature settings are a little stiff too, and the same effect can randomly differ without anything changing in your frame. Sometimes this makes it seem like the filters you're applying aren't taking result, considering the differences between some of the furnishings are sometimes incredibly minor or non-existent.
The biggest downside of this webcam is the built-in microphone, which it appears fifty-fifty Microsoft doesn't recommend you apply. By default, the webcam comes with the congenital-in mic disabled, and attempting to enable it in the Microsoft Accompaniment Centre app volition present you with a warning that states this microphone is not Teams Certified.
The congenital-in mic is but not good.
I'm really happy to run into that Microsoft did add an pick to enable or disable the built-in mic, as a lot of people have setups where they already have a dedicated microphone and don't need Windows getting confused about which mic it should use. It's also benign here considering the born mic merely isn't proficient.
Audio often sounds buzzy and noisy, even with mic gain settings turned down. It's not a pleasant mic to listen to, which is probably why it'south off by default. The built-in mic on my Surface Laptop iv did a much better job at audio, and Windows volition default to your set mic if you have the webcam's mic disabled in the accessories app.
Finally, there's no Windows Hello built into this webcam. For the cost, you probably shouldn't wait it, only if you were looking for a Microsoft solution for adding Windows Howdy to your existing desktop PC, this is non the product for you.
Modern Webcam: Video and sound test
Here is a brief test of the video and audio functioning, including an audio comparing with the built-in mic on the Surface Studio ii.
Modern Webcam: Competition
Source: Windows Central
The webcam market is full of all kinds of different webcams, ranging from top-of-the-line 4K 120 FPS sensors to low-cost 720p cameras. The Microsoft Modern Webcam sits comfortably in the middle ground, being relatively affordable with good enough functioning in well-lit environments.
If you're looking for something top of the range, the Logitech Brio 4K is our recommendation. It has a 4K sensor, up to 60 FPS video recording, dual-array mics, and it even has Windows Hello built right in. Simply, this all comes at a premium cost of $200, manner above the Microsoft Modern Webcam, which comes in at but $99.
Alternatively, we have the Logitech C920, arguably the king of 1080p webcams. Information technology has a wide 78-caste field of view, dual microphones, and a glass lens for extra clarify. Microsoft'southward Mod Webcam competes very well with this device, only I think the Logitech beats information technology by a small margin thanks to its slightly amend image quality.
Nosotros besides take the HP 320 FHD and 325, featuring a similar price to the Microsoft Modern Webcam, a 1080p sensor, albeit with a slightly narrower 66-degree field of view. That said, these HP webcams are mounted to a 360 stand, which is unique, only could be useful in certain scenarios.
Modern Webcam: Should you buy it?
Source: Windows Fundamental
Y'all should buy this if ...
- Y'all need a basic, capable webcam
- Looking for something that's plug and play
- Already have a defended microphone
You lot shouldn't buy this if ...
- Yous need something with a good built-in microphone
- You want Windows Hello facial recognition
The Microsoft Modernistic Webcam is a swell choice for anyone looking for a camera that excels in twenty-four hours-to-solar day video conferencing in apps like Microsoft Teams. If yous're presenting to a large audience, or partaking in pocket-sized squad meetings, you can't go wrong with the Modern Webcam.
That said, information technology'southward not all perfect. While I came away impressed with the video quality, even in low-calorie-free scenarios, the microphone that's built in is but bad. Microsoft ships the webcam with the microphone disabled for this reason, and so I recommend you a dedicated microphone instead.
Overall. for the toll, I call back y'all're getting a adept deal with the Mod Webcam, and so long equally yous use a different microphone. The congenital quality is skilful, it looks sleek above whatever monitor or brandish, and the built-in privacy shutter with magnets is a really prissy touch.
Modern Webcam
Bottom line: With great video functioning even in low light, you lot can't go wrong with the Mod Webcam from Microsoft, built with Microsoft Teams certification in heed.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-modern-webcam-review
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