Dell Ultrasharp Webcam WB7022
Up the resolution
4K webcam for clearer communications
4K webcams are still fairly rare because 1080p cameras are perfectly sufficient for most video chats and cost significantly less. This 4K webcam from Dell costs £180, while a decent 1080p webcam is unlikely to set you back more than £100. Most people won’t be seeing your image at full screen on a 4K monitor, so the extra pixels aren’t really necessary.
However, there are a few reasons why this webcam’s extra pixels aren’t wasted. First, the camera can digitally zoom into your face, so no matter where you’re sitting (and even if you’re moving around) the camera will crop the video and follow your face, while your contact will still receive a clear, high-resolution image. You may also need a high-res camera if you record presentations and online classes or make Youtube videos.
This camera is very solidly built. The barrel is constructed from metal, and both the lens and its protective element are made from glass. It also comes with a monitor mount and a separate tripod adapter, both metal. These sit sit neatly in a magnetic cavity on the underside of the webcam, making it easy to swap between the two. The webcam comes with a two-metre cable and supports Windows Hello, so you can sit down at your computer and log in without having to touch the keyboard.
There is one major feature missing, however, and that’s a built-in microphone. Voice calls are always better using a dedicated USB microphone or headset, but it would have been useful to have a built-in microphone for emergency situations.
Picture quality is excellent. Video is captured at 3840x2160 pixels at up to 30fps with a default field of view of 90 degrees, and the image looks crisp and detailed. It’s even good in low light.
When it comes to the crunch, however, unless you’ve got a particular reason to record your face in 4K, you probably don’t need it. In which case a decent 1080p camera, such as the Anker Powerconf C300 (£99 from www. snipca.com/39207), will serve you perfectly well.
VERDICT Dell’s 4K webcam shoots clear, detailed, extremely highresolution images for video calls, but doesn’t come with a built-in microphone
★★★ ★★ ALTERNATIVE
Logitech Brio 4K £165 Logitech’s take on the 4K webcam is slightly cheaper than Dell’s and has a microphone