Every major company specializing in webcams has pretty much made the push toward 4K. There is no telling what took them so long, allowing Logitech to hold the win for so long. However, recently we’ve come across quite a few that have performed quite well. But how about some of the brands you may not be so familiar with? Like Annke? Annke now has a 4K webcam (model WX810) that has landed and it wants to secure some of this space as well.
It seems that most of the 4K models out there have taken a familiar rectangular design approach. Not all of them, but most of them for sure. This one is no different. That being said, there is nothing wrong with the design and it typically looks pretty good on top of a monitor.
This model has a bit of a durable design to it, feeling hefty in your hand and solid in material build quality. It features USB 3.0 connectivity, which is needed in order to obtain the 4K resolution (like any true 4K model).
It comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable that is used to connect it to your computer or any device that accepts a USB-driven camera. The latter thank to the fact that it (like most modern models) is plug-n-play. Meaning there are no drivers to install in order to get it to work.
The included (attached) mount allows multiple points of swivel so that you can use it from any angle. It is also threaded at the bottom of the mount so that it could attach to a tripod. So no matter what the situation, it should be ready to go right out of the box.
So far, pretty user-friendly and comes with everything you need (which isn’t much).
Performance
This is the important part where we then see what it is capable of in real-world tests. We plugged this camera into multiple systems, including a few laptops as well as a PC fully loaded with OBS and other solutions. But most of the sample footage we captured was raw footage, right out of the box with no settings adjusted (outside of brightness). So that you can see what it looks like without any changes. The full demonstration can be found within the unboxing video down below, just after the conclusion.
The camera is capable of up to 4K@30fps with a 91 degree field of view (FOV). It is spec’d at offering up to 0.7 second autofocus response and comes with noise-cancelation.
So starting with the 4K, which is the most important. You won’t find too many webcams that can push past 30fps. They do exist but they are few compared to the amount of 4K options out there. So it was no surprise to see this was limited to 30fps. Allowing it to compare closely to most of the options out there.
The sensor, however, doesn’t quite compare to some of the $150-$200 models in the market currently. The image does seem a little noisy and bright. The level of detail does show that it is indeed a 4K sensor, but it does seem to be a generic one. Where some of the competition typically leans toward something like Sony’s Starvis sensors or comparable. So, out of the box, you will find yourself having to make adjustment.
By taking the brightness down a little in whatever program you are using to view/capture the webcam from, you instantly start to see some improvement. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a start.
From here, you can explore your settings further. Many conferencing apps will have slide adjustments for the more common options, while others may have more of an automatic option to improve the image with using a single toggle switch. Then you have options like OBS that allow you to really dig into what the image looks like.
This is all post-processing though and doesn’t help sell the camera any as you can do this with any camera feeding into these apps. For us, it’s what it naturally looks like out of the box that gets out attention (or not).
The field of view (FOV) is just fine at 91 degrees. Since it has auto-focus, you can choose to be close or far from the camera and it should do a good job of keeping you in focus. With both these features together, it makes it just as easy to use it as a camera for a meeting room as it is someone sitting in front of a computer.
Having no more than a 0.7 second response time for the auto-focus helps as well. It does seem to do a pretty good job of keeping you in focus as you move around. We found the performance of the focus in this model to be average to even a little above average. Which is exactly the kind of auto-focus you want if you plan on needing an auto-focus-capable model.
As for noise-cancelation, it does an ok job with certain distant noises. However, it doesn’t do much for the general reflection/atmosphere of the room. Leading to kind of a reflective voice in most cases. We could hear the voice reflect around the room in the video below, and that room is somewhat treated to reduce this since there are all sorts of mics used in there (one of the rooms within a studio).
Our Conclusion
The durable design of this webcam looks and feels great. It’s plug-n-play and comes with the one cable it needs to work, as well as a fantastic mount for getting that perfect angle.
The image quality isn’t the best and neither is the noise cancelation of its environment. However, auto-focus is great and the field of view is just right. We could classify this as an entry-level to just above an entry-level 4K solution. However, it does price itself out of this category by trying to compete with some bigger options out there. It’s normal MSRP is $175 and it is currently (at the time of writing this) on sale for $150. However, even at the sale price it doesn’t compete well.
For example, Nexigo has two models (the N950P and the N970P) that both fall within the $150-$200 range, and both offer a better image along with a number of additional features.
This is where many companies fall into a hole. We know they are proud of their product and think it is a fantastic solution. However, a good deal of research needs to be made to make sure it falls into the right price point compared to what’s out there. Unless, of course, it is a huge brand with an obsessed following of consumers that will buy into it no matter what (like Apple or Nike).
It isn’t a bad camera, by any means. It gained some score from us for durability and design, while having good auto-focus, FOV, and adjustable stand. The image is ok after some adjustment, but I just think that this model would have done so much better with a better sensor inside. That, and if the price fall into a better category, this would bring the score up noticeably. However, at this cost (MSRP or the current sale price), we do have to compare it to what’s out there to be fair.
Video:
Additional Images:
Are you a manufacturer or distributor that would like us to test something out for review? Contact us and we can let you know where to send the product and we will try it out.
Don’t forget to subscribe for a chance to win cool prizes!
