The webcam market has been in a rough place over the pandemic as many third-party options rushed to the table with solutions to try to profit from the massive increase in the number of users learning or working from home. Suddenly, so many people needed a webcam, which led to a shortage of some of the most popular models. Not all of these companies had something comparable though, which made finding a good one like finding a gem in a haystack. Good ones like NexiGo’s N950P 4K Webcam.
The issue was that so many companies came out with the promise of 1080P or better models that competed equally with brands like Microsoft and Logitech. However, you get your hands on one just to find out that it was a lower resolution that was upscaled digitally (stretched) to meet that resolution being promised. This resulted in a mediocre or even terrible image.
With enough patience, it is possible to find something comparable, or even better. In the case of this model, it is close to, equal to, or even better than (depending on the model you are comparing it against).
Design
The overall design of this model is only somewhat similar to most of the other webcams out there. There are a lot of bar-style options like this one. However, this one has a little more length to it (side to side). A much longer bar shape, which is likely to house the circuitry inside. It has two (stereo) microphones with background noise cancelation built-in with the lens in the center.
It has a base that is absolutely similar to a lot of models, especially those coming from Logitech. The base is almost identical to what you’d find on the Logitech C922 model as well as the models similar to it (ie, C920, C930, etc). It folds, allowing you to mount it on any modern monitor or laptop, while also providing threads on the bottom to screw to a tripod or other mount solution that uses the same threads.
There is a cable guide on the back to help organize/guide the cable as you send it down the back of your monitor. Something you don’t always find on all models. It’s simple, but it is still something worth pointing out that’s nice.
There is a “zoom” button on the top of the camera, as well as a USB Type-C connection on the back. It will work with any USB Type-C cable, and in most cases, will likely come with both typical cables (USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C). In our case, we only got C to A, which we found odd since every listing we could find claimed to have both.
Then again, ours also didn’t come with the privacy cover for the lens that is also advertised everywhere as being part of the N950P model. So we likely got a special box that is meant just for testing the hardware performance and not the added accessories. Either way, the links we provide here within the store will send you to the all-inclusive option.
That zoom button is an interesting addition. However, you’ll likely not use it much since the camera also comes with a remote.
The remote features a number of options that gives you complete control over the camera outside of resolution (that will always depend on the settings of whatever software/app you are using.
Of these options given, you have a power button, which completely shuts the camera off. Then two privacy buttons allow you to mute the mic or disable the image separately. The latter of which simply replaces the image with a black screen. The response time of both of these functions is instant and perfect for when you need privacy quickly.
You have a 50Hz vs 60Hz button, as well as a directional pad that allows you to slide the image around when it is zoomed in.
This is where you likely won’t both with the physical zoom button on the camera since the controller allows you quickly zoom in and out. The directional pad then becomes enabled when zoomed in. Allowing you to frame yourself perfectly. You are able to zoom up to 5x depending on the resolution you are in (1080p). You are able to zoom in and out of any resolution that is less than 4K (since your max field of play is 4K).
The BLC (background light correction) button is for low-light situations where you need light correction. This will brighten the overall image to help compensate. Then you have separate control of overall brightness, allowing you to bring it up or down. Then, finally, you have microphone volume (up and down).
There is plenty of control available to you with this remote, making it a very powerful and user-friendly solution.
Performance
The above image of our Senior Editor provides a great reference for everything we are about to talk about. The image is clickable, allowing you to view it in full 4K resolution. You can also see more in the video at the end of the review.
As I mentioned before, this model can be almost good, just as good, or even better than certain models. It is definitely better than all of the knockoff options that stretch the image to fake resolutions. This is because it has a true Sony Starvis 4K sensor (8.5MP). It’s small, so it won’t compare to a full handheld camera or DSLR, or even some of the flagship smartphones. However, it is very powerful nonetheless (and all those other devices are much more expensive).
So we will compare it to two different models that many will find familiar. The first will be the Logitech C922 Pro. The C92x series is a fantastic line of models that have been some of the most in-demand options for years now. Most if not all of them can reach up to 1080p@30 with good color, light correction, and clarity. Making it hard for other companies to complete. Microsoft has a few models, but for the most part, Logi has dominated the market for some time now.
However, the NexiGo N950P, in our opinion, does beat out the Logitech C922 Pro (as well as the 920/920s and 930). It isn’t much more in price either. The C92x series runs as high as $110 or more depending on where you buy them. NexiGo’s N950P is capable of doing up to 4K@30 at only $149. It also lets you zoom in when in resolutions less than 4K and then move around the image. All while not sacrificing in quality (mostly). So this model absolutely beats out Logitech’s 1080p options while maintaining a fair price.
That latter part is important as this also allows it to compare with the second option we have to put it up against, which is the Logitech Brio. This model has been the master of the 4K webcam market since it came out. However, NexiGo seems to have shaken the ground beneath it as the N950P comes VERY close to the Brio in many ways (making it “just as good”). The Brio is available for $199, placing it $50 nire and we can’t quite recommend it over the N950P. This is quite exciting as most others have fallen short or failed in comparison.
So that includes two of the most successful webcams Logitech has to offer, which places NexiGo in the run for top-quality webcam listing. Something we haven’t really been able to find for a long time (outside of the two main companies that have dominated for so long).
The only thing we docked this model for in our final assessment was sound. We didn’t hit hard in this area as clearly the company was focused on image quality and being competitive. However, it would have been nice to see better sound coming from the built-in microphones. These do sound quite a bit bright and tinny and seem to be missing a nice body to them.
Zoom!
I mentioned that you don’t sacrifice quality when zooming, followed by “mostly”. This is because, in most cases, you don’t. However, 1080p zoomed in all the way is arguable. That being said, the weight of this is arguable. Therefore it still scores pretty highly with us in the area of “zoom”.
This is incredibly useful when you are trying to line up the perfect shot. Allowing you to focus more on yourself and less on your background. Or if you are trying to simply avoid something specific in the image that might be above or below you, or off to the side.
Accessories
As mentioned, our box was different from what you see being offered online. Ours is missing the USB-C to USB-C cable and we don’t have the lens cover (privacy cover).
However, everything online shows both cables plus the lens cover. So we have made sure the links we have used lead you to the same. That way you don’t miss out on these accessories. Every webcam needs a cover these days to help defend against vulnerabilities (in your software, OS, etc) that may allow someone else to gain access to your webcam.
If, for some reason, your box/kit doesn’t come with a flap, here is one you can 3D print that we threw together that can both slide back and forth on the camera as well as has a flap that can lift up or down. Thus giving you two options for covering/uncovering the lens.
Our Conclusion
When we ran into NexiGo at CES a few months ago (interview available below), representatives of the company explained that the NexiGo 4K models featured a true 4K sensor. That there was no stretching or faking of any kind. In fact, everything we asked about they agreed with or said yes to (feature-wise). Which revved up our expectations a bit.
Now that we have been able to spend some alone time with one of these models, we are quite excited to see what else the company comes up with. If we run into any additional models that fit well with our readers, we will make sure to share everything we find.
The quality of this webcam and the features it has to offer really place it within the top list of choices for us. Its ability to zoom around the image is incredibly useful, allowing you to dial in how much background you really want to offer everyone else in the chat and the remote comes with a complete package of features when it comes to controlling everything. The only thing is didn’t score highly was for sound, but this damage in score was minimal compared to everything else. It’s nice to finally find a company that is dedicating so much effort to fully competing with everyone else.
Videos:
Unboxing/Demo:
Interview (CES 2022):
Additional Images:
Specifications:
- Image Sensor: 1/2.5 inch Sony Sensor
- Active Pixels: 8.5 Megapixels
- Maximum Resolution: 3840 x 2160@30fps
- Video Format: YUY2/MJPG
- Digital Zoom: Up to 5x digital zoom at 1080p@30fps
- Focus Type: Fixed focus
- Field of View: D=98 deg/H=90 deg/V=56 deg
- Microphone: Dual noise-canceling mics
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.
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