The announcement of this new device came as a bit of a surprise, as Dell had never made a dedicated webcam before.
Certainly, Dell has decided to launch a webcam because the sale of this product has exploded due to the pandemic and the rise of telecommuting. With the Dell UltraSharp, the company is clearly taking the new adventure seriously.
You can purchase the new Dell webcam here.
The 4K HDR webcam not only offers impressive video quality, but also an infrared sensor for Windows Hello facial login, a proximity sensor that adds new security features and AI auto framing technology.
At the heart of the camera is a Sony STARVIS 4K image sensor, capable of capturing 4K video at 30 frames per second, or HD video at 60 frames.
It also supports HDR to compensate for uneven lighting and will do its best to reduce image grain when the light is lower, while autofocus should maintain sharpness no matter what.
The UltraSharp has a 90-degree field of view, but you also have the option to crop to 78 or 65 degrees if you want a more precise shot. An auto-framing mode allows the camera to crop and pan to keep you in the center of the shot even when you’re on the move, the same technology we’ve seen in recent iPad Pro and Amazon Echo Show smart displays. .
These are the best webcams of 2021.
Dell has also included a proximity sensor, which gives you the ability to ask your PC to disconnect when the webcam is no longer close enough to detect you.
The included infrared sensor means it also supports Windows Hello for facial recognition login, although the webcam also works with macOS.
As impressive as these technical specifications are, Dell seems to have thought as much about the UltraSharp’s design as it does its video capabilities.
The chamber itself is an elegant cylinder, clad in anodized aluminum. Unlike most webcams, it comes with a physical lens cap – great for privacy – that magnetically attaches to the lens.
Cleverly, when you want to use your webcam, you just need to place the lens cap on the back of your body to keep it safe.
But the magnets don’t stop there. The camera is also magnetically attached to its mount, which means it’s quick and easy to remove and move to the included tripod mount, without screws.
All of this is pretty impressive, but the UltraSharp has one major drawback: it doesn’t have a microphone. Dell told us that they want to prioritize video quality over audio, and they think most users will be happy with their laptop’s headset or microphone anyway.
However, this means that desktop computer users won’t be able to make a quick video call without picking up the headset.
The other problem is the price: the Dell UltraSharp is available today for 213.72 $, which is not cheap for a webcam. Check out our guide to the best webcams we reviewed for more options.
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