OBSBOT Tiny AI-powered PTZ Webcam Hands-on

Webcams have become essential tools for people who are frequently attending video calls. If you have a laptop, most of the time the built-in webcam should be enough. But in some cases, it’s not. Either the quality is not good enough or it can’t adapt to your needs like doing live-selling or standing presentations. In that case, gadgets like the OBSBOT Tiny solve that by using AI and its PTZ feature. Check out our hands-on below.

Starting with the package, the OBSBOT Tiny comes with the unit, magnetic mount, USB-C cable, and tripod.

The device is tiny but definitely bulkier than your standard webcam. It has a slightly hefty and rounded base, while placed above it is the camera in a gimbal mechanism. This part is very light and turns very smoothly. As mentioned in the title, it’s a PTZ webcam meaning it can Pan, Tilt, and Zoom.

When it comes to quality, the OBSBOT Tiny is mostly plastic with a matte finish but feels well-made. It has an LED indicator on the front, two microphones at the base, a DC port, and a USB-C port.

Setup is easy. Just plug the OBSBOT Tiny into your laptop or PC via USB, the LED indicator will turn blue and green to show that it’s ready to use. It supports Windows and macOS, and all we need to do next is open our video calling app like Zoom and it’s good to go. It also supports Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Facebook, and others as long as it supports a webcam.

We can just place it on the desk or use the tripod to elevate it a bit. We can also use the magnetic mount so we can place it above the screen of our laptop or monitor. Depending on your needs, the OBSBOT Tiny can be versatile in this aspect.

But if you want to tweak its settings, you’ll need to download the OBSBOT Tinycam app. From here you’ll be able to reset the gimbal, update the firmware, adjust gesture controls, and change tracking mode, to name a few.

What makes the OBSBOT Tiny different from other webcams is its ability to track you using AI. All you need to do is raise your palm beside your face for a couple of seconds until the LED indicator turns blue, and it will activate the tracking feature. What happens is that the OBSBOT Tiny will follow you and keep you in the frame when you move around. You can even stand up and walk around the room and it will be able to follow you.

Another feature that you can use is the zoom gesture. Just mimic the letter L with your index finger and thumb and zoom to your face for a closer shot. This is good if you don’t want part of your background to be noticed.

When it comes to image quality, I can say that it’s fine. It can shoot at a maximum of 1080p at 30fps, so it’s decent. If you want something more hi-res, you can also opt to go for the OBSBOT Tiny 4K. But for ordinary video calls, 1080p is fine. It also has a 90-degree FOV, which is wide enough to fit two people in the frame, but not too wide to make it look like you’re video calling with a fisheye lens. The colors are okay as well with a good white balance.

Take a look at the samples below comparing it to the built-in webcam of the MacBook Pro (M1):

OBSBOT Tiny

MacBook Pro

By comparison, the OBSBOT Tiny has a wider field of view and looks sharper, while the one on the MacBook Pro has a closer shot, softer details, and warmer colors.

The OBSBOT Tiny is priced at PHP 9,990USD 170INR 14,432EUR 162CNY 1,240 at Digital Walker (see listing here). It is pricey for a webcam, that’s for sure, but if you can take advantage of its PTZ features especially if you’re frequently lecturing or doing live selling, it should come really handy.