This 4K webcam tracks your movements in a good way, and it's $120 off right now
Oct. 15, 2024AI tracking never looked so good
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Usually, a webcam that tracks your movements is creepy, weird, and sets people on edge - and rightfully so. I’m big into my privacy features when it comes to new technology, so it’s a little weird that one of my favorite 4K webcams isdesignedto follow your movements, and I actually really like that it does.
AI tracking features in webcams really experienced a boom during the days of the pandemic, because suddenly everyone needed a remote working setup for meetings and after-hours Zoom Quiz sessions. I didn’t really think any brand nailed AI webcam tracking until I tested the Insta360 Link 4K webcam though, which is currently down from its pricey MSRP of $299 tojust $179.99 at Amazon.
With $120 off, one of my biggest issues with recommending 4K webcams is snookered here. The majority of people just don’t need to splash out on one, but in this deal, you can get one of thebest webcamsavailable for only $20 more than a solid 1080p one like the Elgato Facecam Mk.2, which is $149.
Controlled by hand gestures and clever software, this adorable little camera can pan, tilt, and zoom when you want it to, and it makes both work calls and content creation a bit easier than usual. If I’m streaming, for example, the Insta360 Link can take care of framing for me, and I don’t need to worry about sitting rigidly in a tiny area where my camera can see me. I’m not prone to giving presentations through video calls for work, but if I did, a camera like the Insta360 would be the one I’d use for them.
Insta360 Link 4K Webcam|$299.99$179.99 at AmazonSave $120- Annoyingly, I can’t see any Amazon price history for this product, but compared to other retailers, this is cheaper than it’s ever been. One of my biggest issues when I reviewed this camera was its price, but here, there’s no real reason not to grab it.
Buy it if:
✅ You want a great webcam✅ You’d use the AI features✅ You want resolution options
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You only need 1080p
Price check:$270 at Target
UK:£189.99 at Amazon
Should you buy the Insta360 Link?
If you’re shopping around for thebest gear for streaming, I’m usually hesitant to recommend webcams like theInsta360 Link. Although this is a great webcam that’s easy to recommend, its bag of fancy AI-controlled tricks does feel more geared toward professionals, rather than content creators. Not only that, but if you’re just streaming a few nights a week on Twitch, there’s next to no point in splashing out extra cash for a 4K webcam. Twitch still doesn’t support streaming in 4K, so even if there are benefits to stretching around different resolutions in OBS, you’re still going to need to dumb down the quality. When other bits of a streaming setup cost as much as they do, you’re better off sticking to 1080p.
When one of the best 4K webcams I’ve tested is down to the price above though, it’s harder to make those arguments. It’s usually a case of recommending the Insta360 against theRazer Kiyo Pro Ultra, which doesn’t exactly feel like a fair fight when you look at the size of their sensors. Still, when they’re priced identically, you have to make that match-up. With this deal, why not take the futureproofing and extra versatility that 4K PTZ cameras can offer you if it’s only $20 more than the current best 1080p option, theElgato Facecam MK.2?
Your next best bet when it comes to AI PTZ webcams isOBSBOT’s Tiny 2. That brand makes devices that are very similar to this, and its latest and most affordable option, theTiny 2 Lite, is currentlydown to $149 at Amazonin a limited-time deal. It will give you the same AI tracking features as the Insta360, but in testing, we’ve found that its tracking isn’t quite as reliable, and its hand gestures can frustratingly trigger when you don’t want them to. I never had that problem with the Insta, and in testing alongside my trustee freelancerFraser Porter(who reviewed the Tiny 2 Lite), we agreed the Insta boots out better image quality anyway.
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One of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I’ve been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my ownYouTube channelabout my love of games too. These days, I’m one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.Location: UK Remote
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